A biflavonoid‐rich extract from Selaginella moellendorffii Hieron. induces apoptosis via STAT3 and Akt/NF‐κB signalling pathways in laryngeal carcinoma

Selaginella moellendorffii Hieron. (SM), a perennial evergreen plant, has been used in the treatment of acute infectious hepatitis, thoracic and hypochondriac lumbar contusions, systemic oedema and thrombocytopaenia. However, the role of a biflavonoid‐rich extract from SM (SM‐BFRE) in anti‐larynx cancer has rarely been reported. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo anti‐laryngeal cancer activity and potential mechanisms of SM‐BFRE were investigated. An off‐line semipreparative liquid chromatography‐nuclear magnetic resonance protocol was carried out to determine six biflavonoids from SM‐BFRE. In vitro, MTT assay revealed that SM‐BFRE inhibited the proliferation of laryngeal carcinoma cells. A wound healing assay indicated that SM‐BFRE suppressed the migration of laryngeal cancer cells. Hoechst 33 258 and Annexin V‐FITC/PI double staining assays were performed and verified that SM‐BFRE induced apoptosis in laryngeal carcinoma cells. The Hep‐2 bearing nude mouse model confirmed that SM‐BFRE also exhibited anticancer effect in vivo. In addition, Western blot analysis demonstrated that SM‐BFRE exerted its anti‐laryngeal cancer effect by activating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and inhibiting STAT3 and Akt/NF‐κB signalling pathways. All results suggested that SM‐BFRE could be considered as a potential chemotherapeutic drug for laryngeal cancer.