Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine (동의생리병리학회지)

The Physiological Society of Korean Medicine and The Society of Pathology in Korean Medicine (대한동의생리학회·한의병리학회)
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Inhibitory Effects of Blood-activating and Stasis-dispelling Herbal Medicine Extracts on Colorectal Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion through Regulation of Platelet Activation

활혈거어제의 혈소판 활성화 조절을 통한 대장암 세포 이동 및 침윤 억제

  • Jae-Hoon Jeong (Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-eui University) ;
  • Hyun-Ji Park (Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-eui University) ;
  • Seon-Eun Park (Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-eui University) ;
  • Shin-Hyung Park (Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-eui University)
  • 정재훈 (동의대학교 한의과대학 병리학교실) ;
  • 박현지 (동의대학교 한의과대학 병리학교실) ;
  • 박선은 (동의대학교 한의과대학 병리학교실) ;
  • 박신형 (동의대학교 한의과대학 병리학교실)
  • Received : 2025.08.28
  • Accepted : 2025.10.27
  • Published : 2025.10.25
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Abstract

Platelets play a pivotal role in cancer metastasis through diverse mechanisms, including the promotion of angiogenesis, induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and the establishment of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated the effects of blood-activating and stasis-dispelling herbal medicine (BASDH) extracts, traditionally used to enhance blood circulation, on platelet activation-mediated migration and invasion of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Extracts from 18 BASDHs were first screened for cytotoxicity in MC38 CRC cells and for platelet toxicity, and non-toxic concentrations were used for subsequent functional assays. All extracts significantly suppressed MC38 cell-induced platelet activation, as evidenced by reduced ATP release. Furthermore, co-culture with platelets markedly enhanced the migration and invasion of MC38 cells, indicating that CRC cell-induced platelet activation augments their metastatic potential. Among the 18 BASDH extracts, 15 inhibited platelet activation-driven migration, and 12 reduced invasion. Notably, Spatholobus suberectus extract exhibited the most potent inhibitory effects on both migration and invasion. Collectively, these findings suggest that BASDH extracts effectively attenuate the metastatic ability of CRC cells by inhibiting platelet activation, supporting their potential as promising adjunctive agents for preventing CRC metastasis.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 보건복지부의 재원으로 한국보건산업진흥원의 보건의료기술연구개발사업 지원에 의하여 이루어진 것임(과제고유번호 RS-2025-02215233).

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