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UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-Based Serum Metabolomics Reveals Potential Anti-tumor Mechanism of Banxia Xiexin Decoction in Colorectal Cancer Mice

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Abstract

Objective

To clarify the potential mechanism of Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXD) on colorectal cancer (CRC) from the perspective of metabolomics.

Methods

Forty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control (NC), azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) model, low-dose BXD (L-BXD), high-dose BXD (H-BXD) and mesalamine (MS) groups according to a random number table, 8 mice in each group. Colorectal cancer model was induced by AOM/DSS. BXD was administered daily at doses of 3.915 (L-BXD) and 15.66 g/kg (H-BXD) by gavage for consecutive 21 days, and 100 mg/kg MS was used as positive control. Following the entire modeling cycle, colon length of mice was measured and quantity of colorectal tumors were counted. The spleen and thymus index were determined by calculating the spleen/thymus weight to body weight. Inflammatory cytokine and changes of serum metabolites were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS), respectively.

Results

Notably, BXD supplementation protected against weight loss, mitigated tumor formation, and diminished histologic damage in mice treated with AOM/DSS (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, BXD suppressed expression of serum inflammatory enzymes, and improved the spleen and thymus index (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, 102 kinds of differential metabolites were screened in the AOM/DSS group, including 48 potential biomarkers, involving 18 main metabolic pathways. Totally 18 potential biomarkers related to CRC were identified, and the anti-CRC mechanism of BXD was closely related to D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, arginine biosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and so on.

Conclusion

BXD exerts partial protective effects on AOM/DSS-induced CRC by reducing inflammation, protecting organism immunity ability, and regulating amino acid metabolism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, 215009, China

    Yin-zi Yue

  2. School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Ming-xuan Li & Lian-lin Su

  3. Department of General Surgery, Bayinguoleng Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture People’s Hospital, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Korla, 841000, China

    Xiao-hui Wang & Jin-hua Tan

  4. Department of Pharmacy, Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, 215009, China

    Yuan-yuan Qin

  5. Department of Anorectal Surgery, Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, 215009, China

    Ya-hui Wang & Shuai Yan

Authors
  1. Yin-zi Yue
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  2. Ming-xuan Li
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  3. Xiao-hui Wang
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  4. Yuan-yuan Qin
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  5. Ya-hui Wang
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  6. Jin-hua Tan
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  7. Lian-lin Su
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  8. Shuai Yan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shuai Yan.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Author Contributions

Yue YZ, Yan S, Qin YY and Li MX designed the experiments. Wang XH, Qin YY and Wang YH performed experiments and collected the data. Tan JH and Su LL discussed the results and strategy. All authors read and approved the final version for publication.

Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (No. XZR2020038); Science and Technology Innovation Project of Suzhou Medical and Health Care (No. SKJY2021136) and Fifth Batch of Gusu Health Personnel Training Project in Suzhou (No. GSWS2020085)

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Yue, Yz., Li, Mx., Wang, Xh. et al. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-Based Serum Metabolomics Reveals Potential Anti-tumor Mechanism of Banxia Xiexin Decoction in Colorectal Cancer Mice. Chin. J. Integr. Med. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-023-3552-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-023-3552-0

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