ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the in vitro effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combined Compound Ginseng and Astragalus (CGA) on the biological behaviors such as the proliferation, the cloning, apoptosis and migration of human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cell proliferation inhibition rate was detected by MTT assay, and the median effective concentrations of different drugs used alone/combination were calculated. The cell cycle and apoptosis were observed by flow cytometry. The formation of the cell colony was detected by Giemsa staining. The drugs' inhibition on cell migration was detected by cell scratch experiment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CGA and 5-FU both could inhibit the growth of the human gastric cancer cell line MGC-803 cells, and their effects were enhanced along with increased drug concentrations. Compared with CGA or 5-FU alone, CGA +5-FU got higher cell growth inhibition rate (P<0.05), and the effects were enhanced along with increased concentrations. CGA and 5-FU both could induce the apoptosis of MGC-803 cells, inhibit the formation of cell cloning, block cells at G0/G1 phase, and inhibit the cell migration. Compared with CGA or 5-FU alone, CGA + 5-FU got higher apoptosis rate of MGC- 803 cells, and more cells blocked at G0/G1 phase (P<0.05). Besides, the MGC-803 cells were inhibited at G0/G1 phase. Compared with CGA or 5-FU alone, CGA +5-FU obviously lowered formation of cell cloning and area of cell migration (P<0.05). The median effective concentration of CGA +5-FU was less than the sum of the median effective concentration of CGA and 5-FU.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with CGA or 5-FU alone, CGA +5-FU could better inhibit the cell growth of human gastric cancer MGC- 803 cells, suppress the formation of cell cloning, induce cell apoptosis, block the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, and inhibit the cell migration.</p>