iProXProteomicsLimin WangHomo Sapienshttp://www.iprox.org/page/project.html?id=IPX0017774000wanglimin@hebeu.edu.cnHebei University of EngineeringiProXNon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with limited therapeutic efficacy and severe side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy, creating an urgent need for safe and effective natural anti-tumor agents. Quercetagetin-rich marigold flavonoids (QG-MF), isolated from the lutein-extracted inflorescence residues of <i>Tagetes erecta</i> L. (marigold), have been identified as bioactive polyphenols with potential anti-cancer properties, yet their anti-NSCLC activity and underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive.<h4>Aim of the study</h4>This study aimed to investigate the <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> inhibitory effects of QG-MF on NSCLC.<h4>Methods</h4><i>In vitro</i> experiments were performed on A549 and H661 NSCLC cell lines: cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay; cell migration and invasion were evaluated via wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively; cell apoptosis and cycle distribution were analyzed by flow cytometry; the expression levels of p53/p21 signaling pathway-related proteins were determined by Western blot. <i>In vivo</i> anti-tumor efficacy of QG-MF was assessed using A549 NSCLC xenograft mouse models, with tumor volume and weight measured to evaluate tumor growth inhibition.<h4>Results</h4>QG-MF significantly suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced apoptosis as well as cell cycle arrest in A549 and H661 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Mechanistically, QG-MF upregulated the expression of p53, p21, Bax and caspase-3, and downregulated Bcl-2 in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated p53 silencing effectively abrogated the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of QG-MF on NSCLC cells. <i>In vivo</i>, QG-MF markedly inhibited the growth of A549 xenograft tumors in nude mice without obvious systemic toxicity.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Our findings demonstrate that QG-MF exerts potent anti-NSCLC activity by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation/metastasis via the p53/p21 signaling pathway.Quercetagetin-rich flavonoids from marigold induce apoptosis inhibit metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer via the p53/p21 signaling pathway.Dong Zhihuan Z, Cheng Xinying X, Lian Yunhe Y, Wu Di D, Liu Kaihui K, Feng Xue X, Xue Qiang Q, Chen Qingliang Q, Wang Limin LfalseQuercetagetin-rich flavonoids (QG-MF) from marigold induce apoptosis via activating p53/p21 pathway in non-small cell lung cancer cellsLabel-free quantitative proteomics was applied to screen differentially expressed proteins in QG-MF-treated A549 lung cancer cells. Functional enrichment analysis and in vitro/in vivo validation confirmed the regulation of the p53/p21 signaling cascade. All mass spectrometry raw data and processed analytical files are deposited in compliance with MIAPE guidelines for ProteomeXchange.Mon Jun 15 00:00:00 GMT+01:00 2026PXD079740960642434755