Figure 6.

A schematic model of the anticancer mechanism of physalin B in HCT116 cells. Physalin B induces mito-ROS generation resulting in UPP inhibition and incomplete non-canonical autophagy response. Autophagosome/lysosome fusion is blocked due to the inhibition of functions of microtubules and F-actin microfilaments, leading to autophagy substrates accumulation which accelerates apoptosis. Besides, MAPK pathways are sustainedly activated and partially mediate autophagy response and apoptosis in physalin B-treated cells.