Jujuboside B induces mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in colorectal cancer through ROS-mediated PI3K/Akt pathway in vitro and in vivo

Abstract Jujuboside B (JUB) is a saponin isolated from the seeds of Zizyphus jujuba. The anti-colorectal cancer effect of JUB and its potential mechanism remain unclear. We demonstrated that JUB induced the apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells via mitochondrial membrane damage. JUB-induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells was dependent on the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and downregulation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway. Moreover, JUB significantly inhibited tumor growth in the colorectal cancer mouse model, and the molecular mechanism was consistent with the results in vitro. This study proved for the first tine that JUB can induce the apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells by promoting ROS generation and inactivating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo, providing a scientific basis for the application of JUB in the prevention and adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer.