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Published on: January 18, 2017
Oridonin inhibits aberrant AKT activation in breast cancer
Bowen Sun1,2, Geng Wang2,3, Huidong Liu2,3
1The first Affiliate Hospital, Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Antibody Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
Abstract:
Aberrant activation of phosphatidylinosito-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling in cancer has led to pursuit of inhibitors for targeting this pathway. However, inhibitors of PI3K and AKT have failed to yield efficacious results without adverse effects. Here, we screened a library containing 441 authenticated traditional chinese medicine (TCM) plant extracts by examining their effect on cell viability of a human mammary epithelial cell line HMEC-PIK3CAH1047R, which expresses mutant PIK3CAH1047R and has constitutively active AKT signaling. We found that Oridonin, an extract from Rabdosia rubescens, reduced cell viability to the greatest extent. Oridonin binds to AKT1 and potentially functions as an ATP-competitive AKT inhibitor. Importantly, Oridonin selectively impaired tumor growth of human breast cancer cells with hyperactivation of PI3K/AKT signaling. Moreover, Oridonin prevented the initiation of mouse mammary tumors driven by PIK3CAH1047R. Our results suggest that Oridonin may serve as a potent and durable therapeutic agent for the treatment of breast cancers with hyperactivation of PI3K/AKT signaling.
Insights
Oridonin, a traditional Chinese medicine extract, effectively inhibits breast cancer cell growth by targeting the PI3K/AKT pathway. This natural compound shows promise as a therapeutic agent for specific breast cancer types.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Natural Products Chemistry
Background:
- Aberrant activation of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling is common in cancer.
- Existing PI3K and AKT inhibitors have shown limited efficacy and significant adverse effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To screen traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plant extracts for novel inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT pathway.
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of Oridonin, a TCM extract, in preclinical models of breast cancer.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 441 authenticated TCM plant extracts against HMEC-PIK3CAH1047R cells.
- Assessing Oridonin's effect on cell viability and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.
- Investigating Oridonin's mechanism of action as an AKT inhibitor.
Main Results:
- Oridonin, from Rabdosia rubescens, demonstrated the most significant reduction in cell viability.
- Oridonin selectively inhibited tumor growth in human breast cancer cells with hyperactivated PI3K/AKT signaling.
- Oridonin prevented mammary tumor initiation in a mouse model driven by PIK3CAH1047R mutation.
Conclusions:
- Oridonin acts as a potent ATP-competitive AKT inhibitor.
- Oridonin exhibits selective efficacy against breast cancers with PI3K/AKT pathway hyperactivation.
- Oridonin represents a promising therapeutic candidate for breast cancer treatment.
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