Formosanin C-inhibited pulmonary metastasis through repression of matrix metalloproteinases on mouse lung adenocarcinoma

Formosanin C (FC) isolated from Rhizoma paridis, showed pro-apoptosis and immunoregulation with antitumor activity in cultured cells and animal systems. However, there is no report about its anti-metastatic effect on cancer cells. This research used the wound healing and the migration assay to detect the anti-invasive effect of FC on LA795 cells. Through the gelatin zymography assay and immunofluorescence analysis, FC showed suppression of enzyme activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and protein expression of MMP-1, -2, -3, -9 and -14 excreted from LA795 cells. Finally, FC exhibited much more effective inhibition of tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis in T739 mice than cisplatin did. Overall, the strong inhibition of MMP expression by FC might provide a potential therapeutic modality for lung tumors.