Fig. 8.

Celastrus orbiculatus stem extract (COE) inhibits the proliferation of subcutaneous xenograft tumours by regulating the expression of polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 (PTBP1) and alpha actinin-4 (ACTN4) in vivo. (A) The long and short diameters of subcutaneous transplanted tumours were measured, and the volume was calculated every three days using a vernier calliper. (B) Fluorescence intensity pictures of subcutaneous xenografts tumours in nude mice were taken by in-vivo imaging system (IVIS) living-image technology on days 7 and 21. The fluorescence intensity scale ranged from 1.2 × 10⁹ to 1 × 10¹⁰. (C) Average radiant efficiency was analysed using IVIS living-image software. (D, E) On day 21, the nude mice were sacrificed and the xenografted tumours were photographed (D) and weighed (E). (F) Nude mice in the control and COE groups were weighed every three days (n = 6). (G) Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was performed on the dissected tumours. (H) Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related indicators in the tumours. ^∗P < 0.05, ^∗∗P < 0.01, and ^∗∗∗P < 0.001. ns: no statistical significance. mRNA: messenger RNA.