In vitro Anticancer Activity of Myricanone in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite the new chemotherapy regimens and cytotoxic combinations investigated in multiple clinical trials in recent years, no significant improvement in the prognosis of patients with lung cancer has been achieved. Recently, scientists have focused on the potential role of extracts of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs as alternative and complementary medications for cancer treatment. Myricanone, a typical large ring of cyclic diarylheptanoids, is abundant in the bark of Myrica. Our studies have found that myricanone exerts potent anticancer activity. This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of the effect of myricanone on A549 cells in vitro.

A549 cells were treated with different concentrations of myricanone for the following assays. Tritiated thymidine incorporation was used to measure growth inhibition. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis and cell cycle progression, and colony formation was performed to observe the effect of myricanone on the A549 proliferation rate.

Myricanone induced significant dose-dependent growth inhibitory effects on A549 cells with an IC50 of 3.22 µg/ml. A significant decrease in colony formation was observed. This decrease induced cell apoptosis, G1 phase arrest and the emergence of the sub-G0 peak in A549 cells.

These results suggest that myricanone exhibits anticancer activity and may be applicable in the clinical prevention and treatment of lung cancer in the future.