Anti-tumor Effect and Its Mechanisms of Ursolic Acid on Human Esophageal Carcinoma Cell Eca-109 in Vivo

Objective:To investigate the anti-tumor effect and possible mechanisms of ursolic acid on human esophageal carcinoma in vivo.Methods:A transplanted tumor model by injecting Eca-109 cells into subcutaneous tissue of BALB/c nude mice was established.40 nude mice bearing tumors were randomly divided into 4 groups and 0.2 ml saline or 0.2 ml ursolic acid(25-100 mg·kg-1.d-1)was injected into abdominal cavity respectively once everyday and lasted for fourteen days.The changes of tumor volume were measured continuously and tumor inhibition rate was calculated.The morphological changes of apoptosis were observed by electron microscope.The expressions of COX-2,bcl-2 and Bax protein in transplanted tumors were detected by immunohistochemistry.At last the PGE2 level of transplanted tumors was detected by radioimmunoassay.Results:Treatment of nude mice with 25,50,or 100 mg·kg-1.d-1 of ursolic acid significantly inhibited the growth of the human esophageal carcinoma tumor in nude mice and induced Eca-109 cells apoptosis as demonstrated by electron microscopy analyses.The expressions of COX-2 and bcl-2 in the transplanted tumors were decreased in ursolic acid groups,while the Bax increased.The PGE2 level of transplanted tumors was decreased in ursolic acid groups with a dose-related manner.Conclusion:Ursolic acid has anti-tumor effects against human esophageal carcinoma cells in vivo,which are likely mediated via induction of tumor cell apoptosis and inhibition of COX-2 and PGE2.