Cherry Silver Berry (Elaeagnus multiflora) Extracts Exert Anti-inflammatory Effects by Inhibiting COX-2 and Akt Signals in HT-29 Colon Cancer Cells

In this study, the potential of cherry silver belly (Elaeagnus multiflora) as a cancer preventive agent through regulating inflammatory signals including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Akt was examined. Cherry silver berry has reported to exert anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative effects. The extracts from seed and flesh of cherry silver berry were obtained, and analyzed COX-2 and Akt activities in cherry silver berry extract treated HT-29 colon cancer cells. The results showed that the treatment of seed extracts reduced cell viability at the concentrations above 1,600 mg/mL, effectively reduced COX-2 and p-Akt expression. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects seemed to be related to cancer cell death. Both of seed and flesh extracts inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells. These results suggest that extracts of cherry silver berry may contribute to suppressing cancer growth through its anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects, and natural products used as oriental medicine have the possibility to control tumor cell growth.