Agrimol B present in Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb impedes cell cycle progression of cancer cells through G0 state arrest.

Cancer recurrence poses a significant challenge. At the cellular level, recurrence takes place as a result of reactivation of dormant cancer cells residing at G 0 phase. The aim of the study was to identify compounds that can trap prostate and lung cancer cells in G 0 phase from a new Chinese herb recipe, Astringent recipe, consisting of Radix Paeoniae Alba , Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb , Fructus Mume, Fritillaria thunbergii Miq., Ganoderma Lucidum Karst , and Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge. Astringent recipe impeded cell cycle progression in prostate and lung cancer cells by rounding them up at G 0 phase by flow cytometric analysis of cancer cells stained with Hoechst 33342 and Pyronin Y, respectively, for DNA and RNA. The anti-cancer efficacy of the recipe was found to be attributable to Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. Further study established that agrimol B, a polyphenol derived from Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb, contributed to the activity of the herb. The action of agrimol B on the cancer cells was likely derived from its effect on c-MYC, SKP2 and p27 by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Oral administration of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb or agrimol B reduced growth of prostate cancer cell xenograft in animal. In conclusion, Agrimol B can enrich for prostate and lung cancer cells in G 0 state and influence key regulators that govern G 0 status. [Display omitted] • Astringent recipe exerts cytostatic action on a range of cancer cells. • Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb and agrimol B can enrich for prostate and lung cancer cells in G 0 state. • The influence of agrimol B on c-MYC, SKP2 and p27 may contribute to its anticancer action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]