Phytochemical composition of the diethyl ether extract of Artemisia lactiflora Wall. ex DC and its antimetastatic activity in human lung cancer cells

Abstract

Artemisia lactiflora Wall. ex DC. is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant used in the treatment of menstrual and hepatic disorders due to its antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. However, its anti-metastatic activity, which is the clinical challenge of lung cancer treatment, has not yet been reported. From the diethyl ether extract of Artemisia lactiflora, the four terpenoids, including dihydroactinidiolide, megastigmatrienone, alpha-curcumene, and dehydrovomifoliol, were the most intense peaks observed using LC-MS/MS, whereas bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was a contaminant. In a transwell assay, the A. lactiflora diethyl ether extract (32 μg/ml) and dihydroactinidiolide (250 μg/ml) markedly inhibited the migration and invasion of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, similar to the standard anti-metastatic drug (capmatinib). Western blot analysis revealed that mesenchymal N-cadherin is downregulated in NSCLC cells under the treatment conditions. The potential antimetastatic property of dihydroactinidiolide is promising as a new candidate antimetastatic agent for lung cancer treatment.