2. Academic Validation
  3. Molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-Colon Cancer effects of Caulerpa lentillifera polysaccharides (CLP)

Molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-Colon Cancer effects of Caulerpa lentillifera polysaccharides (CLP)

  • Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 May;308(Pt 4):142594. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.142594.
Qinghua Wen 1,  Jun Liu 2,  Jiaheng Hu 1,  Kit Ian Kou 3,  Haichou Li 1,  Jiaojiao Zhang 4,  Rongxin Zhang 5,  Saiyi Zhong 6,  Riming Huang 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
  • 2 Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China.
  • 3 Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macao.
  • 4 College of Food and Health, Zhejiang A& F University, Hangzhou 311300, China.
  • 5 Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sun Yatsen University Cancer center, Guangzhou 510060, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou 510060, China.
  • 6 Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, China. Electronic address: zhongsy@gdou.edu.cn.
  • 7 Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: huangriming@sacu.edu.cn.
PMID: 40157667 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.142594
Abstract

Colon Cancer (CC) ranks is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Despite chemotherapy being a primary treatment its effectiveness significantly declines in advanced in stage. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary components particularly Polysaccharides, play a role in CC progression. This study employed multi-omics and network pharmacology to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the apoptotic effects of Caulerpa lentillifera polysaccharide (CLP) in CC, validated through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Transcriptomics and network pharmacology analysis identified the p53/Bax/Caspase-3 pathway as a key regulatory axis. Further targeted analysis of amino acid metabolism revealed that CLP significantly decreased intracellular aspartate (Asp) levels. Additionally, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) accumulation was detected in cells. CLP treatment reduced Asp content, leading to ROS accumulation, which activated the p53/Bax/Caspase-3 pathway, triggering Apoptosis. In vivo, CLP effectively inhibited tumor growth in BALB/c mice bearing CT26 colon Cancer cells. These findings suggest that CLP exerts anti-colon Cancer effects by modulating amino acid metabolism and inducing Apoptosis via the p53/Bax/Caspase-3 axis, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for CC.

Keywords

Apoptosis; Caulerpa lentillifera polysaccharide; Colon cancer.

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