RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the promotion of Allium ascalonicum L. extract (OE) on the apoptosis of human hepatic carcinoma cell line HepG2 and its mechanism. METHODS: Alamar blue assay was used for detecting the influence of OE on the proliferation of HepG2. The morphological changes of cells were observed under inverted microscope and Hoechst 33258 stainning. The cell apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. Western blot and Caspase 3 activity kit were used to detect the protein expression in HepG2 cells treated with OE. Z-LEHD-FMK was used to validate the signal transduction pathway. RESULTS: OE inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of Bcl-2 and survivin was downreagulated in HepG2 cells treated with OE, and Bax, Bad, Apaf-1, p53 and Caspase 9 were upregulated. Besides, the Caspase 3 activity was significantly increased. Z-LEHD- FMK significantly inversed the cell viability of HepG2 cell inhibited by OE. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that onion extract induces the apoptosis of HepG2 through mitochondria-mediated pathway.