Cimigenoside Affects Cell Viability, Apoptosis and Metastasis Of A549 Cells Via The NF-κB Pathway

Abstract

Cimigenoside, one of the main elements isolated from the aboveground plants of the Cimicifuga genus, has anti-tumour effects. However, the question of whether Cimigenoside had effects on lung cancer remains elusive. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of Cimigenoside on A549 lung cancer cells. The A549 cells were cultured in vitro, and an MTT assay was carried out to explore the cell proliferative abilities after a treatment with Cimigenoside. The wound healing assays and Transwell invasion assays were carried out to explore the effects of Cimigenoside on cell migration and invasion in the A549 cells. A cell apoptosis assay using flow cytometry was used to evaluate the effects on cell apoptosis in the A549 cells. The related protein expression levels were measured using a Western blot assay. It was hypothesised that Cimigenoside could restrain tumour cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while inducing cell apoptosis with apoptosis-related protein change levels in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The Western blot assay revealed that the Cimigenoside treated A549 cells had a reduced expression of p65, while having an increased expression of IκBα at the protein level. Taken together, this study demonstrated that Cimigenoside has the potential to repress cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while inducing apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells through the NF-κB pathway. These results reveal that Cimigenoside may have a therapeutic potential for lung cancer treatment.