RESUMO
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Yiyi Fuzi Baijiangsan （YYFZBJ） on the apoptosis of colon cancer cell line HCT116. MethodYYFZBJ at different concentrations （0.5， 1， 2， 4， 6， 8， 10， 12， 14， 16 g·L-1） was used to intervene in HCT116 cells for 24， 48， 72 h. The cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） method was used to determine the effect of YYFZBJ on cell proliferation in vitro. The cells were divided into a blank group， a capecitabine group（1.8 g·L-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose YYFZBJ groups （6， 10， and 14 g·L-1） and treated for 48 hours. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis. Hoechst 33342 staining was used to observe the apoptotic morphology of cells. Mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP） was analyzed by a mitochondrial-targeted deep-red fluorescent probe （Mito-Tracker Red CMXRos）. The expression of proteins related to the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway， such as B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， cytochrome C （Cyt C）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease （Caspase）-9， Caspase-3， cleaved Caspase-9， and cleaved Caspase-3 was detected by Western blot. The mRNA levels of Bcl-2， Bax， Cyt C， Caspase-9， and Caspase-3 were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the blank group， YYFZBJ （8， 10， 12， 14， 16 g·L-1） significantly inhibited the proliferation of HCT116 cells in vitro （P<0.05） in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the blank group， the medium- and high-dose YYFZBJ groups and the capecitabine group showed increased apoptosis rates of colon cancer cells （P<0.05）. The YYFZBJ groups and the capecitabine group showed reduced number of colon cancer cells with significantly changed cellular morphology and cell apoptosis manifestations， such as strong dark blue fluorescence， nucleus concentration， shrinkage， and fragmentation. With the increase in the mass concentration of YYFZBJ， the blue fluorescence intensity was significantly enhanced. Compared with the blank group， the YYFZBJ groups and the capecitabine group showed reduced MMP in a dose-dependent manner， decreased protein and mRNA levels of Bcl-2， and increased protein expression of Bax， Cyt C， Caspase-9， Caspase-3， cleaved Caspase-9， and cleaved Caspase-3 and mRNA expression of Bax， Cyt C， Caspase-9， and Caspase-3 （P<0.05）. ConclusionYYFZBJ can induce the apoptosis of colon cancer HCT116 cells through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.