Abstract
Xanthomicrol, a trimethoxylated hydroxyflavone, is the main active component of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss leaf extract. Preliminary in vitro studies identified this compound as a potential antiangiogenic and anticancer agent. This study aimed to evaluate in vivo anticancer effect of xanthomicrol and investigate its molecular mechanism of action in a mouse melanoma (B16F10) model. Effect of xanthomicrol on B16F10 melanoma cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. For in vivo experiments, C57BL/6 mice were inoculated subcutaneously with B16F10 cells. After five days, once daily administration of xanthomicrol, thalidomide, or vehicle was commenced and continued for 21 consecutive days. On the 26th day, blood samples and tumor biopsies were taken for subsequent molecular analysis. Xanthomicrol showed inhibitory effect on viability of B16F10 melanoma cells (IC50 value: 3.433 μg/ml). Initial tumor growth, tumor volume and weight, and angiogenesis were significantly decreased in xanthomicrol-treated animals compared with those in vehicle group. Protein expression of phosphorylated Akt, mRNA expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF in tumor tissues, and serum VEGF were significantly decreased in xanthomicrol-treated animals compared with vehicle-treated animals. Thus, xanthomicrol inhibited cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. This effect, at least in part, was exerted by interfering with PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and inhibiting VEGF secretion by tumor cells. Further studies are required to elucidate the exact molecular mechanisms of antitumor activity of xanthomicrol.