Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Salidroside's Molecular Mechanisms in Breast Cancer Treatment
Published on: June 9, 2023
Artematrolide A inhibited cervical cancer cell proliferation via ROS/ERK/mTOR pathway and metabolic shift
Xin-Tian Zhang1, Jing Hu2, Li-Hua Su1
1State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Artematrolide A (AR-A), a guaianolide dimer isolated from Artemisia atrovirens, demonstrated significant inhibitory effect on three human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2, Huh7 and SMMC7721). The anti-cervical cancer effect and mechanism of this compound have yet to be explored. This study is to reveal the role and mechanisms of artematrolide A on cervical cancer cells, and provide the pharmacological understanding of artematrolide A.
Purpose:
To investigate the function and possible mechanism of artematrolide A on cervical cancer cells in vitro.
Methods:
HeLa S3 and SiHa cells were treated with artematrolide A at various concentrations. In this study, MTT, colony formation, cell migration and invasion, cell cycle analysis, cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, western blotting, enzyme activity, and lactate production of artematrolide A were evaluated.
Results:
Artematrolide A inhibited cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion in a dose-dependent manner, caused cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase, and induced cell apoptosis via Bcl-2/PARP-1. The mechanism of action of artematrolide A included two aspects: artematrolide A suppressed cell proliferation by activating ROS/ERK/mTOR signaling pathway and promoted glucose metabolism from aerobic glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration by activating pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (OGDC) via inhibiting the activity of alkaline phosphatases (ALP).
Conclusion:
Artematrolide A exhibited a significant cytotoxic activity on cervical cancer cells, induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by activating ROS/ERK/mTOR signaling pathway and promoting metabolic shift from aerobic glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration, which suggested artematrolide A might be a potential agent for the treatment of cervical cancer.
Related Concept Videos
Inhibition of Cdk Activity
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...

