Swertianin Promotes Anti-Tumor activity by facilitating Macrophage M1 polarization via STING signaling

•SWE are related to its promotion of M1 polarization in the tumor microenvironment.•SWE can activate the STING signal, thereby activating NF-κB to exert its effects.•SWE can activate the STING-NF-κB signal to promote macrophage M1 polarization, playing an anti-tumor role. To investigate the mechanism by which swertiamarin (swertianin, SWE) regulates the polarization of tumor microenvironment-associated macrophages to M1 phenotype, thereby exerting anti-tumor effects.SWE promoted the formation of M1 cells and increased the proportion of CD86 + cells in both RAW264.7 and primary monocyte-derived macrophages, while activating the STING-NF-κB pathway. When STING or P65 was knocked out, the effects of SWE were antagonized, inhibiting the formation of CD86 + M1 cells. At the animal level, SWE inhibited tumor growth, activated STING-NF-κB, and promoted the formation of CD86 + cells. STING-KO inhibited the effects of SWE.SWE can activate the STING-NF-κB signal to promote macrophage M1 polarization, playing an anti-tumor role.