Effect of Icaritin on non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H1299 cells

Chinese herbal medicine has indeed been used for centuries in China as a treatment for various ailments, including lung cancer. The use of Chinese herbal medicine in cancer treatment is often based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principles, which emphasize restoring balance and harmony within the body. Icaritin is a natural compound extracted from plants of the Epimedium genus, the anticancer activity of which has been extensively studied. However, the anti-tumor effect of icaritin on the non-small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H1299, which lacks the P53 gene, has not been reported. In this study, we evaluated the anticancer effect of icaritin on NCI-H1299 cells by treating these cells with different concentrations of icaritin. We find that icaritin significantly induces apoptosis and autophagy and inhibits proliferation and migration, icaritin induced autophagy in H1299 cells. These results indicate that icaritin is a potential therapeutic drug for patients with lung cancer with P53 gene deletion.