Effects of Pimpinella candolleana extract on invasion and migration in colon cancer Caco-2 cells

CAI Jin; XIAO Hai; XIA Yalan; ZHAO Ming; LIN Tingting; LUO Piao; CHEN Lin

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-266X.2025.06.012

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effects of Pimpinella candolleana extract on the invasion and migration of human colorectal cancer Caco-2 cells,and to explore its possible underlying mechanisms.Methods Pimpinella candol-leana extract was prepared.Caco-2 cells were treated with 0,5,10,20,40,60,80,160,320,640,and 1 280 μg/mL Pimpinella candolleana extracts.Cell viability was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8)assay.We selected the con-centration that did not significantly alter the cell morphology and showed no statistically significant difference in cell viabili-ty to continue treating Caco-2 cells.Transwell chamber and wound healing assays were performed to assess cell invasion and migration.The expression levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)pathway proteins(p-ERK,ERK)and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-related markers(vimentin,E-cadherin)were determined by Western blotting.Results With increasing concentrations of Pimpinella candolleana extracts,the cell viability exhibited a downward trend,showing a statistically significant decrease at concentrations≥40 μg/mL.At 0,5,and 10 μg/mL,cell morpholo-gy remained unchanged and no significant difference in viability was observed;therefore,the concentrations of 2.5,5,and 10 μg/mL were selected for further investigation.Treatment with Pimpinella candolleana extracts at concentrations of 2.5,5,and 10 μg/mL led to a gradual reduction in the invasion and migration rates of Caco-2 cells,accompanied by de-creased expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(p-ERK)and vimentin,and increased expres-sion of E-cadherin,with the most pronounced effects at 10 μg/mL(all P<0.01).Conclusion Pimpinella candolleana extracts suppress the invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cells,possibly by regulating the ERK signaling pathway and inhibiting the EMT process.