Possible Mechanism of Astragalus notoginseng Compound Glycosides Reversing Chemoresistance of Breast Cancer

Abstract

Preoperative chemotherapy can help to downstage cancer, while postoperative chemotherapy can potentially reduce the risk of cancer recurrence or metastasis. However, as the number of chemotherapy sessions or drug dose increases, patients may develop different degrees of drug resistance. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) holds that the main cause of breast cancer formation and development is “qi stagnation and blood stasis”. Treatment can be initiated by invigorating qi and activating blood flow. Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng belong to the traditional Chinese herbs used to promote qi and blood circulation. Astragaloside IV (AST IV) and Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are important active ingredients of TCM with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects, respectively. These compounds have various functions, including tonifying qi and rising Yang, consolidating surface, reducing perspiration, benefiting water retention, reducing swelling, promoting body fluid, and nourishing blood. Through animal experiments, we found that the total compound of Astragalus notoginseng can effectively improve the inflammatory state and hypoxia state of breast cancer xenografts in nude mice, as well as reduce tumor volume. These results suggest that astragalus and Panax notoginseng compound glycosides can reverse the chemoresistance to a certain extent. The effectiveness of astragaloside and Panax notoginseng compound glycosides in reversing chemoresistance may be attributed to their active components, such as AST IV and PNS, which can regulate HIF-1α/MDR1, and improve the hypoxia of tumor cells. Therefore, this study suggests that Astragalus and Panax notoginseng compound glycosides have potential value in the treatment of chemoresistance of breast cancer.