Medicinal Plant Research 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 137-150 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 143 al., 2021). Additionally, atractylenolides have been reported to modulate immune responses by affecting the production of inflammatory cytokines and influencing macrophage polarization (Bailly, 2020; Qian et al., 2022). These immunomodulatory effects suggest potential applications in managing immune-related disorders and enhancing overall immune function. 5.3 Antioxidant activities The antioxidant properties of Atractylodes macrocephala are largely due to its rich content of flavonoids and other polyphenolic compounds. These compounds exhibit strong free radical scavenging activities, thereby protecting cells from oxidative stress and related damage. Studies have shown that the essential oils and extracts from Atractylodes macrocephala significantly reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and enhance the activities of antioxidant enzymes, contributing to its protective effects against oxidative damage (Hwang et al., 2022; Li et al., 2023). 5.4 Gastrointestinal benefits A. macrocephala has been traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, and modern research supports its efficacy in this area. The herb has been shown to improve gastrointestinal function by enhancing motility and reducing inflammation in the gut (Zhu et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2019). The polysaccharides fromAtractylodes macrocephala play a critical role in these effects by modulating gut microbiota and enhancing intestinal health (Yang et al., 2022; Cheng et al., 2023). Studies have demonstrated that A. macrocephala can ameliorate chemotherapy-induced diarrhea by modulating gut microbiota and reducing intestinal inflammation (Wang et al., 2019). These gastrointestinal benefits are likely due to the combined effects of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. Choi et al. (2024) focused on the therapeutic effects of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (AMK) on human gastric cancer. Using AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells, the researchers investigated the impact of AMK extracts on cell apoptosis and xenograft tumors. The study found that AMK extracts reduced the viability of AGS cells, increased the proportion of sub-G1 phase cells and mitochondrial membrane potential, promoted the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), activated caspase activity, and regulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Additionally, AMK extracts significantly inhibited AGS cell migration and the growth of three-dimensional tumor spheres (Figure 3). In vivo experiments demonstrated that AMK extracts effectively suppressed the growth of AGS xenograft tumors in NSG mice. The results suggest that AMK exhibits anti-gastric cancer potential by promoting cell cycle arrest and inducing apoptosis, providing a new approach for gastric cancer treatment. Choi et al. (2024) used a wound healing assay to evaluate the effect of AMK extracts on the migration ability of AGS cells. The results showed that after 24 hours of treatment with AMK extracts, the migration ability of AGS cells was significantly reduced. This indicates that AMK extracts can effectively inhibit the migration of tumor cells, which is a crucial factor in tumor metastasis. Additionally, the study further validated the anticancer potential of AMK extracts using a three-dimensional multicellular tumor spheroid (MTS) model. After six days of AMK extract treatment, optical microscopy revealed a marked reduction in the growth of the tumor spheroids. The decrease in tumor spheroid volume further confirmed the ability of AMK extracts to inhibit AGS cell proliferation in vitro. Through these experiments, the study demonstrated that AMK extracts exhibit antitumor activity by affecting cell migration and interfering with the growth of tumor spheroids. These findings support the potential of AMK extracts as an anticancer treatment, particularly in inhibiting tumor spread and metastasis. This provides experimental evidence for the use of AMK extracts as a therapeutic agent for gastric cancer, especially in preventing tumor dissemination and metastasis.
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