ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of black garlic extract on HeLa cells and its possible molecular mechanisms.Methods Inhibitory rate of HeLa cells was detected with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT).Flow cytometry annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (V-FITC/PI) was used to detect tumor cell apoptosis.Flow cytometry was used to measure cell-cycle changes.Immunohistochemistry method was used to detect expressions of tumor proteins bax and Bcl-2.Results Black garlic extract significantly inhibited the growth of HeLa cells.Black garlic extract significantly induced apoptosis of HeLa cells.The apoptosis rate was (53.26 ± 1.78)％ in the black garlic high-dose group,and (3.68 ±0.11)％ in the control group.Black garlic extract affected cell cycle,upregulated bax expression,and downregulated bcl-2 expression.Conclusions Black garlic extract significantly induced the apoptosis of HeLa cells.This effect might be caused through increasing G2/M cells or changing expressions of bax and bcl-2.