ABSTRACT
AIM To investigate the mechanism of apoptosis induced by oxymatrine on MCF 7 cell line METHODS Using light microscopy, electron microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, flow cytometry (FCM) and DNA gel electrophoresis to demonstrate the presence of apoptosis RESULTS Morphological characteristics of apoptosis were observed on oxymatrine treated MCF 7 cells, such as condensation of nucleus, bubble of cytoplasm, fragment of nucleus, a ladder like pattern of DNA fragmentation in agarose gel eletrophoresis Laser scanning confocal microscopy showed decreasing of the content of DNA Sub G1 peak and increased S period ratio were analysed by FCM CONCLUSION Oxymatrine can induce the inhibition of cell growth by apoptosis and the mechanism of apoptosis is involved in blocking of S period cells