ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effects of ursolic acid on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic carcinoma cell line HepG2 and its partial mechanism.Methods:The human HepG2 cells were cultured by different concentrations of ursolic acid.The inhibitions of ursolic acid on cell proliferation were determined by using MTT.The effects of ursolic acid on on cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by using flow cytometry.The expressions of pERK1/2 and Cyclin D1 proteins after culturing by different concentrations of ursolic acid were tested by using Western blotting.Results:The human hepatoma HepG2 cell proliferations were inhibited by different concentrations of ursolic acid,and the effects showed dose and time-dependent manner(P＜0.05).The cell apoptosis rate for human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was achieved to the maximum under 60 μ mol/L ursolic acid for 72 h,which was (78.723 ± 3.623)％.Ursolic acid could significantly increase the Go/G1 phase cells proportion,and induce HepG2 apoptosis.Ursolic acid could inhibit the expressions of pERK1/2 and Cyclin D1 proteins,and inhibitory effects showed more apparent along with the concentration and time gradually increasing.Conclusion:Ursolic acid could inhibit the proliferation of human hepatic carcinoma HepG2 cell line,block of cells in G0/G1 phase,and promote the cell apoptosis.This might be related with down-regulation of the expressions of pERK1/2 and Cyclin D1 proteins.