RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of matrine on Fas, VEGF, and activities of telomerase of MCF-7 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In vitro cultured human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group. The matrine solution was added in cells of the experimental group. Equal volume of culture medium was added in cells of the control group or the negative control group. Zedoary Turmeric Oil, the telomerase inhibitor was added in cells of the positive control group. Morphological changes were observed under an inverted microscope. The telomerase activity was detected by TRAP-ELISA. Expressions of Fas and VEGF protein were detected by immunocytochemical assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Matrine obviously inhibited the growth and induced apoptosis of breast cancer cells. MCF-7 cells were treated by matrine of different concentrations at 24, 48, and 72 h, the telomerase activity gradually decreased along with increased matrine concentration and prolonged action time, showing dose-effect and time-effect positive relations. Matrine could up-regulate Fas protein expression and downregulate VEGF protein expression of MCF-7 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Matrine showed obvious effect in inhibiting the growth of MCF-7 cells and promoting the apoptosis, which might be achieved by up-regulating the expression of Fas protein, inhibiting telomerase activity induced apoptosis of breast cancer cells, down-regulating the expression of VEGF protein, and inhibiting the tumor vascular formation.</p>