Inhibitory Effect and Mechanism of Juzao Pill (菊藻丸) on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Xenografts

Author：OUYANG Zhi1, ZHENG Peifan2, LI Songlian1

Unit：1.The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha Hunan 410005, China; 2.Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha Hunan 410208, China

Quote：引用：欧阳志，郑裴凡，李松莲.菊藻丸对MCF-7乳腺癌移植瘤的抑制与机制[J].中医药导报,2026,32(2):1-6.

DOI：10.13862/j.cn43-1446/r.2026.02.001

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Abstract：

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of Juzao pill on the growth of subcutaneous MCF-7 breast cancer xenografts and its underlying molecular mechanism. Methods: Totally 30 5-week-old SPF nude mice were randomly divided into five groups, including model group, low-dose Juzao pill group, high-dose Juzao pill group, positive control group, and PTEN inhibitor group, with 6 mice in each group. A xenograft model was established by subcutaneous inoculation of MCF-7 cells. Subsequently, each group received the corresponding drug intervention via gavage or intraperitoneal injection for 21 days. Body weight and tumor growth were monitored and recorded. After euthanasia, tumor weight was measured. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of proliferation markers (PCNA, Ki-67), an apoptosis marker (Caspase-3), and key proteins of the PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Results: Compared with the model group, both low-dose Juzao pill and high-dose Juzao pill significantly inhibited xenograft growth, slowed tumor progression, and reduced tumor weight (P<0.05). The positive control group also showed significant tumor growth inhibition (P<0.05), whereas the PTEN inhibitor group exhibited accelerated tumor growth and increased tumor weight (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical results indicated that in the low-dose Juzao pill group, high-dose Juzao pill group and positive control group, the expression of PCNA and Ki-67 was down-regulated, while Caspase-3 expression was up-regulated (P<0.05). Moreover, PTEN expression was increased, and the levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR were reduced (P<0.05). In contrast, the PTEN inhibitor group displayed opposite trends, with up-regulation of PCNA and Ki-67, down-egulation of Caspase-3, decreased PTEN expression, and elevated of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR (P<0.05). Conclusion: Juzao pill significantly inhibits the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer xenografts, possibly by up-regulating PTEN expression, suppressing the PI3K/Ak/mTOR signaling pathway, and thereby inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis.

Key words：breast cancer; Juzao pill; MCF-7 cells; nude mouse xenograft; cell proliferation; apoptosis; PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

摘要：

目的：探讨菊藻丸对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞皮下移植瘤生长的抑制作用及其分子机制。方法：采用随机数字表法将30只5周龄SPF级裸小鼠分为模型组、菊藻丸低剂量组、菊藻丸高剂量组、阳性对照组、磷酸酶和张力蛋白同源物（PTEN）抑制剂组，每组6只。采用皮下接种MCF-7细胞建立移植瘤模型，随后各组予相应药物进行灌胃或腹腔注射干预21 d。观察并记录裸鼠体质量和肿瘤生长情况。处死动物后称量肿瘤质量。采用免疫组化法检测移植瘤组织增殖指标增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）、Ki-67，凋亡指标半胱天冬酶-3（Caspase-3），以及PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR通路关键蛋白的表达变化。结果：菊藻丸对MCF与模型组比较，菊藻丸低剂量组、菊藻丸高剂量组裸鼠移植瘤生长受到显著抑制，生长速度减慢，肿瘤质量降低（P<0.05），阳性对照组肿瘤生长抑制效果显著（P<0.05），PTEN抑制剂组肿瘤生长加速，肿瘤质量增加（P<0.05）。免疫组化结果显示，菊藻丸低剂量组、菊藻丸高剂量组及阳性对照组肿瘤组织中PCNA、Ki-67表达下调，Caspase-3表达上调，PTEN表达水平升高，p-PI3K、p-Akt、p-mTOR磷酸化水平降低（P<0.05）。PTEN抑制剂组呈现相反趋势，PCNA、Ki-67表达上调，Caspase-3表达下调，PTEN表达降低，p-PI3K、p-Akt、p-mTOR磷酸化水平升高（P<0.05）。结论：菊藻丸能明显抑制乳腺癌MCF-7细胞皮下移植瘤的生长，其作用机制可能为上调PTEN表达，抑制PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路，进而抑制肿瘤细胞增殖，诱导凋亡。

关键词：乳腺癌；菊藻丸；MCF-7细胞；裸鼠移植瘤；细胞增殖；细胞凋亡；PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR通路

Release time：2026-03-05

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