3-epi-bufotalin suppresses the proliferation in colorectal cancer cells through the inhibition of the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been increasingly employed in the last decades in China for both preventing and treating a variety of cancers. 3-epi-bufotalin is an active ingredient of TCM "Chanpi" with anti-tumor potential. However, the effect and mechanism of 3-epi-bufotalin on colorectal cancers were not well disclosed. The present study demonstrated that 3-epi-bufotalin could reduce viability, trigger apoptosis, and block the cell cycle at the G 2 /M stage in colorectal cancer cell lines HT29, RKO, and COLO205 in vitro. Moreover, 3-epi-bufotalin inhibited the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway. These results indicated the anti-proliferation ability of 3-epi-bufotalin in colorectal cancer cells.