Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common causes of death. Thus, identification of innovative therapeutic agents to increase the efficacy of current treatments is needed. The activity of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (Z. jujuba) has been reported in several malignancies. Here, we examined the therapeutic potential of Z. jujuba in CRC in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-proliferative activity of extracted Z. jujuba (extracted via hydroalcoholic extraction method) was explored by MTT at 72 hr in CT-26 and SW-480 cells, while wound-healing assays was used to assess its anti-migratory effects t IC50 values of ~500 µg. The anti-tumor activity was investigated using a three-dimensional cell culture model, followed by RT-PCR after 72 hr, and LC/MSMS. Docking analysis was also performed to investigate the interactions between key Z. jujube compounds with target proteins. RESULTS: Z. jujuba suppressed cell proliferation and migration by the perturbation of CyclinD1/Survivin and E-cadherin/matrix metalloproteinase 9, respectively. Moreover, treatment of CRC cells with Z. jujuba was associated with a reduction in the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6. Moreover, Z. jujuba increased pro-apoptotic factors caspas3 and caspase9. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated the therapeutic potential of Z. jujuba in CRC through anti-proliferative, and anti-inflammatory properties, indicating its potential value in the treatment of CRC.