# Antiproliferative effects of Trigonostemon xyphophyllorides on renal cell carcinoma via the PI3K/AKT pathway

**Authors:** Andong Wang, Yuru Yang, Tingting Chen, Jinyan He, Bai Ling, Xiaotian Cheng

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1594461 · Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2025-11-07

## TL;DR

This study shows that Trigonostemon xyphophyllorides can inhibit the growth of kidney cancer cells through a specific signaling pathway.

## Contribution

The study identifies the PI3K-AKT pathway as the mechanism through which TX exerts anti-proliferative effects on renal cell carcinoma.

## Key findings

- TX extract is non-toxic to normal kidney cells but inhibits the growth of renal cancer cells.
- Transcriptomic analysis shows TX's anti-proliferative effects are mediated via the PI3K-AKT pathway.
- Molecular docking and experimental validation confirm the role of the PI3K-AKT pathway in TX's mechanism.

## Abstract

One of the most well-known and deadly types of cancer is renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Not much research has been done on Trigonostemon xyphophyllorides (TX), an untested folk cure for cancer.

UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was used to systematically identify the components of TX. ACHN cell lines were used to assess TX’s pharmacological studies. Next, complexes with compound and gene will be included based on molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. In the end, signaling pathway analysis were used to elucidate the intricate mechanisms.

Analysis using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS identified 47 major compounds in TX. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the TX extract was non-toxic to normal HK-2 cells but exhibited significant anti-proliferative effects on renal cancer ACHN cells, including inhibition of colony formation, suppression of cell migration, and anti-apoptotic properties. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the anti-proliferative activity of TX was mediated through the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Subsequent validation was conducted using molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting techniques.

This study utilized in vitro experimental validation techniques to establish that TX exerts its anti-proliferative effects by activating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. These findings elucidate the mechanism of TX action and provide a scientific basis for its prospective contemporary utilization.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** PIK3CA (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha), AKT1 (AKT serine/threonine kinase 1)
- **Diseases:** renal cell carcinoma (MONDO:0005086)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** AKT1 (AKT serine/threonine kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 207] {aka AKT, PKB, PKB-ALPHA, PRKBA, RAC, RAC-ALPHA}, PIK3CB (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit beta) [NCBI Gene 5291] {aka P110BETA, PI3K, PI3KBETA, PIK3C1}
- **Diseases:** renal cancer (MESH:D007680), cancer (MESH:D009369), RCC (MESH:D002292)
- **Chemicals:** TX (-)
- **Cell lines:** ACHN — Homo sapiens (Human), Papillary renal cell carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_1067)

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12635619/full.md

## Figures

7 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12635619/full.md

## References

29 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12635619/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12635619