A novel matrine derivate inhibits differentiated hepatoma cells and hepatic cancer stem-like cells by suppressing PI3K/AKT signaling pathways

MASM is a novel derivative of the natural compound matrine that possesses a chemopreventive potential against various cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we evaluated MASM for its efficacy to inhibit human HCC cell lines Hep3B and Huh7 and their respective sphere cells in vitro as well as Huh7 cell xenograft model in BALB/c nude mice in vivo.