Purification Of A Novel Anti-tumor Peptide From Meretrix Meretrix And Its Pharmaco-mechanism Of Action

Most of current anti-tumor chemotherapies acted against normal mammalian cells, consequently causing severe side effects. So far, literature on natural products derived from marine organisms was characterized by low cytotoxity and new mechanisms. Marine organisms represented essentially unexploited resources for producing of potentially biological and pharmacological important natural drug leads. Meretrix Meretrix (Meretrix, Veneridae) was a traditional Chinese drug with anti-tumor activities. The aim of this study is to find a novel peptide with anticancer activity from Chinese traditional marine medicine Meretrix Meretrix, and illustrate the mechanism of the peptide. By varieties of chromatographies including ion exchange chromatography, Sephadex gel, an anti-tumor peptide was isolated from the Meretrix Meretrix. Meanwhile, the possible anticancer pharmacological action modes were also investigated by electrophoresis, scanning electron microscopy, cell cycle arrest assay, and so on. Anti-tumor effect of Meretrix Meretrix anticancer peptide approach may be by altering the tumor cell membrane permeability, thereby undermining tubulin polymerization, blocking cell cycle, resulting in inhibition of tumor cell proliferation activity. Meretrix Meretrix anticancer peptide transplanted into nude mice of human hepatoma BEL-7402 role of 25mg/kg, 50mg/kg and 75mg/kg inhibition rate are 42%, 57% and 72% (P<0.01), respectively.