Inhibitory effect of Euphorbia helioscopia on human triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and its possible mechanism of apoptosis / 药学实践杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of Euphorbia helioscopia on MDA-MB-231 cells and its mechanism.Methods The cell viability was detected by MTT assay.The production of ROS in MDA-MB-231 cells was measured by fluorescence microscopy.The apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry.Apoptosis DNA fragments were detected by TUNEL assay.Western blot was used to assess the expression of caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP.Results MTT assay showed that the extract significantly inhibited the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells, which can be diminished by the ROS inhibitor NAC and the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK.The marked increase in the production of ROS induced by the extract was observed with fluorescence microscopy.Flow cytometry showed that the PI positive staining cells increased significantly after the treatment of the extract, but was diminished by NAC.Caspase-9 and caspase-3 were activated after the treatment of the extract while the PARP was cleaved.TUNEL showed that a significant increase in apoptotic DNA fragmentation induced by the extract, which can be diminished by NAC and Z-VAD-FMK.Conclusion Ethyl acetate extract inhibited the MDA-MB-231 cells and induced apoptosis.The mechanism may involve with the mitochondrial damage due to the excessive ROS.