Trifolirhizin inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway suppression

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly recurrent and metastatic malignant tumor affecting a large number of individuals in southern China. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine has been found to be a rich source of natural compounds with mild therapeutic effects and minimal side effects, making them increasingly popular for treating various diseases. Trifolirhizin, a natural flavonoid derived from leguminous plants, has gained significant attention for its therapeutic potential. In this study, we confirmed that trifolirhizin could effectively inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma 6–10B and HK1 cells. Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that trifolirhizin achieves this by suppressing the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The findings of the present study provides a valuable perspective on the potential therapeutic applications of trifolirhizin for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. •The flavonoid compound TFL inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells while exhibiting minimal toxicity to normal cells.•TFL exhibits anti-tumor effects in vivo, inhibiting the growth of nasopharyngeal tumors without significant adverse effects.•TFL exerts its anti-tumor effects by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.