AUTHOR=Feng Yewen , Deng Lu , Guo Hengrui , Zhao Yumin , Peng Fu , Wang Gang , Yu Chenghao 

TITLE=The Anti-Colon Cancer Effects of Essential Oil of Curcuma phaeocaulis Through Tumour Vessel Normalisation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.728464

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.728464

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Normalising tumour vessels had become a significant research focus in tumour treatment research in recent years. <italic>Curcumae rhizoma</italic> (CR) is an essential plant in traditional Chinese medicine as it promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis. Similarly, CR improves local blood circulation.</p></sec><sec><title>Purpose</title><p>We explored the anti-colon cancer effects of essential oil from CR (OCR) by investigating its role in normalising tumour vessels. We also provided a basis for research and development into new anti-cancer drugs.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>We used colon cancer as a research focus to investigate OCR. We established an <italic>in vitro</italic> co-culture model of colon cancer cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). We also established an <italic>in vivo</italic> subcutaneous implant colon cancer model in nude mice. These studies allowed us to evaluate the comprehensive effects of OCR in <italic>in vivo</italic> and <italic>in vitro</italic> colon cancer and its role in normalising tumour blood vessels.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p><italic>In vitro</italic>, we found that OCR inhibited Human colon cancer cells (HCT116) and HUVEC cell proliferation and inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor-a (VEGFa) mRNA and protein expression in HUVECs in a co-culture system. Our <italic>in vivo</italic> studies showed that OCR inhibited colon cancer tumour growth, reduced angiogenesis in tumours and increased vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin and pericyte coverage in tumour vessels.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>OCR inhibited colon cancer growth both in <italic>in vivo</italic> and <italic>in vitro</italic> models, reduced angiogenesis in tumours, improved tumour vessel structures and normalised tumour vessels.</p></sec>