Table 5.
Effect of TCM on cell death of tumor cells.
| TCM | Tumor type | Effects | Main mechanisms | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Induction of apoptosis | ||||
| AST (TCM component) |
In vitro, HT-29 CRC cells | Could induce the extrinsic apoptotic cascade and caused cell cycle arrest | Regulating both mTOR and ERK signaling pathways, inhibition of NF-kappaB is a critical latter event | (Auyeung et al., 2010) |
| LJGP (TCM component) |
In vitro, AGS gastric cancer cells | Could inhibit tumor growth and induce apoptosis by upregulating pro-apoptotic Bax, and downregulating anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and IAP family members, as well as activation of caspase-3/9 | downregulating telomerase activity and prostaglandin E2 synthesis by decreasing COX-2 | (Ho et al., 2011) |
| PHY906 formula |
In vivo, a nude mouse xenograft model of HepG2 | Could increase cell apoptosis | Increasing mouse FasL and human FasR expression | (Lam et al., 2015) |
| YWKLF formula |
In vitro, human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells | The sera from rabbits orally administered with YWKLF induced cell apoptosis | Inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, increasing the expression of Fas and Bax, and reducing the mRNA levels of FasL | (Li et al., 2008) |
| Induction of autophagy | ||||
| Bufalin (TCM monomer) |
In vitro, human hepatoma cancer Huh7, Hep3B and HA22T cells | Could inhibit the proliferation, regulate the cell death program, and induce autophagy | Increasing TNF, MAPK and BECN-1 and ATG8, and decreasing Bcl-2 and Bid | (Hsu et al., 2013) |
| DHA-37 (TCM monomer) |
In vitro and in vivo, multiple human cancer cell lines including A549 SGC-7901, and a murine xenograft model of A549 | Could trigger ACD in A549 cells and inhibit tumor growth in vivo | Activating the MAPK signal and upregulating HMGB1 in vitro and increasing p-ERK, p-P38, HMGB1, and LC3 in tumor tissue | (Liu et al., 2018) |
| PGB (TCM component) |
In vitro, human lung carcinoma A549 cells | Could induce ACD of A549 cells | Suppressing the AKT/mTOR pathway, and activating the AMPK and MAPK pathways | (Ma et al., 2016) |
| FOJ and SSOJ (Components of OJ formula) |
In vitro, human lung carcinoma A549 cells | Could induce autophagy of A549 cells by upregulating protein levels of LC3-II and mRNA levels of Atg-3, Atg-7, Beclin-1 and LC3-II/I | Inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling | (Chen J. et al., 2017) |
| Induction of necroptosis | ||||
| Resibufogenin (TCM monomer) | In vivo, a murine xenograft model of CRC | Could suppress tumor growth and metastasis | Induction of necroptosis through increasing RIP3 and pMLKL | (Han et al., 2018) |
| Shikonin (TCM monomer) |
In vitro, rat C6 and human U87 glioma cells | Could induce necroptosis | Mediated by oxidative stress and RIP1 signaling | (Huang C. et al., 2013) |
| Induction of multiple cell death pathways | ||||
| SB (TCM component) |
In vitro and in vivo, human lung cancer CL1-5 cells and a murine xenograft model of lung cancer | Could suppress proliferation and angiogenesis, and increase apoptosis and autophagy | ER stress-, intrinsic mitochondrial-, P38/SIRT1-regulated cell apoptosis through G2/M phase arrest and extrinsic Fas/FasL-mediated pathways | (Chen C.C. et al., 2017) |
| HLP (TCM component) |
In vitro, human malignant melanoma A375 cells | Could induce apoptosis and ACD in A375 cells | Increasing the caspases cleavages, Bcl-2, and Fas/FasL activation and ATG5, Beclin1, and LC3-II | (Chiu et al., 2015) |
| Shikonin (TCM monomer) |
In vitro and in vivo, mouse stage IV mammary carcinoma 4T1-luc2 cells and a murine model of mammary carcinoma | Could trigger RIP1- and RIP3-dependent necroptosis and autophagy, and stimulate the derived vaccine efficacy | Enhancing the surface DMAP activity and DC activation | (Lin et al., 2018) |
AST, The total saponins of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge [Fabaceae]; CRC, colorectal cancer; LJGP, Glycoprotein isolated from Laminaria japonica; YWKLF, a herbal medicine formula Yang Wei Kang Liu; DHA-37, Dihydroartemisinin; ACD, autophagic cell death; HMGB1, high mobility group protein; PGB, the platycoside-containing butanol fraction of PG; FOJ, Flavonoids; SSOJ, steroidal saponins; OJ, Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl. [Asparagaceae]; SB, Scutellaria barbata D.Don [Lamiaceae]; HLP, Hibiscus leaf polyphenolic.