Fig. 6: Inhibition of xenograft tumor growth and metastasis by matrine in vivo.

a Time course of tumor growth, measured as tumor volume in each group at the indicated time of treatment with normal saline or matrine (100 mg/kg, ip). Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 3, *P < 0.05). b Tumors in matrine-treated mice were significantly smaller than those in normal saline-treated mice. c The bar graph represented the mean of tumor weight from matrine-treated and control mice (n = 3, *P < 0.05). d The representative histological examinations of the dissected tumors with matrine or normal saline treatment using H&E staining, TUNEL assay, Ki-67 and CD31 antibodies. Scale bar: 50 μm. e The global phosphorylation levels of tyrosine and serine/threonine were significantly decreased in matrine-treated A2780 cells and in matrine-treated tumor tissue lysates, respectively. f, g Western blot and IHC staining demonstrated a decrease in the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, MEK1/2, PI3K, Akt, mTOR, FAK, RhoA, VEGFR2, and Tie2 in xenografts treated with matrine compared with those in control group. Scale bar: 50 μm. h A2780 cells were injected into tail veins of BALB/c nude mice. Representative images showed lungs with metastatic nodules from the matrine-treated mice and the control group. The left panel presents macroscopic appearances of lung metastatic nodules, and the middle and right panels present the H&E staining of lung tissues in mice with matrine or normal saline treatment. i The number of lung metastatic nodules was significantly reduced in mice treated with matrine compared with the control group. j H&E staining of hepatic tissues in mice with matrine or normal saline treatment. Scale bar: 50 μm. k Concentrations of ALT and AST were measured in the blood at the end of matrine treatment. Data are presented as mean ± SD