Angoroside C (AgrC) is a compound with many pharmacological properties. However, its antitumour potential has not been well studied. The low bioavailability of AgrC suggests a strong link to gut bacteria. Therefore, we identified and quantified four AgrC metabolites in gut microbiota. Molecular docking and inhibitor-based experiments demonstrated that carboxylesterase played a key role in AgrC metabolism. Both AgrC and its metabolites inhibited the viability of CT-26 cells, and potential antitumour targets were further explored. Additionally, AgrC significantly increased the levels of propionic, butyric, valeric and isovaleric acids. This provides a new insight for the antitumour effects of AgrC.
Keywords: Angoroside C; SCFAs; antitumour; carboxylesterase; gut microbiota; network pharmacology.