ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of genistein on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human laryngeal carcinoma cell line Hep-2.@*METHOD@#Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to measure the 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50) value of genistein; cell apoptosis rate and the distribution changes of cell cycle were determined with flow cytometry assay after treatment by gensitein. The morphological changes of tumor cells were evaluated by inverted phase contrast mircroscopy.@*RESULT@#The IC50 of geniste responses to Hep-2 cells for 24 h was 23.64 µg/ml. The apoptotic rates of Hep-2 cells treated by genistein for 24 h were 22.40% ± 1. 65% (at 12 µg/ml genistein) and 30.64% ± 2.94% (at 24 µg/ml genistein) respectively, significantly statistical differences were foundbetween above threated groups and the control group (P < 0.05); the apoptotic rates of Hep-2 cells treated by genistein for 48 h were 30.55% ± 0.72%(at 12 µg/ml genistein) and 48.69% ± 1.06% (at 24 µg/ml genistein) respectively, significantly statistical differences were found between above threated groups and the control group (P < 0.05). When Hep-2 cells exposed to the same concentration of genistein for 24 h, 48 h respectively, the difference in apoptotic rate was statistically significant.@*CONCLUSION@#Genistein inhibited Hep-2 cells growth obviously, meanwhile it could induced apoptosis of Hep-2 cells, the apoptotic rate was increasing with the increase of the time and dose of genistein.