Anti-cancer potential of polysaccharides derived from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg against human ovarian cancer cells in vitro

Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumour that develops in the ovaries. Treatment options include surgery and chemotherapy, but these methods can have serious side effects. Reports suggest that Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg (TH), a traditional Chinese medicine, has an inhibitory effect on malignant tumour cell proliferation. Tetrastigma hemleyanum polysaccharide (THP), extracted from the roots, stems and fruits of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg, exhibits potential anticancer activity. This study found that THP significantly reduced the viability of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner, and markedly inhibited their migratory and invasive capacities. THP downregulated the S-phase related proteins Cyclin A2 and CDK2 while upregulating p21, thereby inducing S-phase arrest. Furthermore, THP upregulated the apoptosis-related genes and proteins Bax and Caspase-3, downregulated Bcl-2 and survivin, thereby promoting apoptosis in SKOV3 cells. Therefore, this study suggests that THP has anticancer potential against ovarian cancer in vitro.