Cucurbitacin I induces apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells through oxidative stress and the p190B-Rac1 signaling axis

Ovarian cancer is a serious threat to women's life and health, with a high mortality rate. Therefore, in addition to improving surgery for ovarian cancer, it is particularly important to develop novel drug treatments. In the present study, the anticancer effects of cucurbitacin I, a natural product, were investigated. Cucurbitacin I impaired the viability of SKVO3 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Apoptosis was involved in the process of cucurbitacin I-induced cell death, with an increase observed in cleaved-caspase 3 and BAX, and a decrease in Bcl-2. Cucurbitacin I caused a notable increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species, and regulated Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 and nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 to decrease the expression of antioxidant-related genes. In addition, Cucurbitacin I induced cell shrinkage by regulating the p190BRhoGAP (p190B)-Rac1 signaling axis related to the cytoskeleton. In brief, these results suggested that cucurbitacin I induced cell death through oxidative stress and the p190B-Rac1 signaling axis in SKVO3 cells. The results may provide novel evidence for the treatment of ovarian cancer.