Anticancer properties of Gratiola officinalis extract

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. At the basis of its pathogenesis are mutations that impair several molecular pathways that regulate cell growth, survival, proliferation, and migration. Furthermore, cancer cells also exhibit metabolic alterations that increase the amount of energy produced through glycolysis even in aerobic conditions, the so-called “Warburg effect”. To treat such a heterogeneous disease, many drugs have been developed over the years. However, their efficacy is variable, and their administration may be related to the insurgence of strong side effects, urging the need to find new, complementary approaches. Amongst these, natural compounds present in plants have emerged as promising candidates, having shown antiproliferative and antioxidant activities on cancer cells in vitro. Here, we report that the ethanol extract derived from Gratiola officinalis has a stronger impact on CRC cell lines compared to healthy colon cells, altering their viability, proliferation rate and survival capability. These effects are particularly evident on the E705 CRC cell line, where the extract also causes the downregulation of glycolysis, thus reverting the Warburg effect. Taken together, these observations suggest that Gratiola officinalis could represent a novel player in the prevention and treatment of colorectal carcinoma.