Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells induced by ethanol extracts of Solanum lyratum Thumb through the mitochondrial pathway.

AIM: To explore the induction effects and mechanism of Solanum lyratum Thumb (ST) on human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells through the mitochondrial pathway. METHODS: The experiments were conducted on three groups: an experimental group (with ST ethanol extracts' concentration being 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/L), a negative control group (with only nutrient solution, 0 mg/L ST ethanol extracts), and a positive control group (2.5 mg/L DDP). The inhibition rate of cell proliferation was checked by using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method, and cell apoptosis was tested by TUNEL method. Furthermore, RT-PCR was used to examine mRNA expression of Fas, FasL, caspase-8, caspase-3, p53 and Bcl-2 genes. RESULTS: Compared with the negative control group, the inhibition and apoptosis rates of the experimental group with different concentrations of ST extracts on human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells significantly increased (P < 0.05). Besides, the mRNA expression of FasL and Bcl-2 significantly decreased (P < 0.05) while the mRNA expression of Fas, caspase-8, caspase-3 and p53 increased significantly. When compared with the positive control group, the experimental groups with 5 mg/L ST ethanol extracts showed effects similar to the positive control group. CONCLUSION: ST ethanol extracts induced the apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells through up-regulated Fas, caspase-8, caspse-3 and p53, and down-regulated FasL and Bcl-2 in the mitochondrial pathway.

[Apoptosis-inducing effect of Scutellaria barbata extract on human lung cancer SPC-A-1 cells and the expression of apoptosis associated genes].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the apoptosis-inducing effect of Scutellaria barbata extract (SBE) and the expression of apoptosis associated genes survivin and caspase-3 on human lung cancer SPC-A-1 cells. METHODS: Lung cancer SPC-A-1 cells were treated with 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/L for 48 h,and the cells were treated with 2.5 mg/L DDP as positive control. The inhibitory rat was evaluated by MTT assay. Apoptotic rate was determined by TUNEL method. The expression of survivin and caspase-3 mRNA were detected by semi-quantitive RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the inhibitory rate was increased obviously (P < 0.001), the apoptotic rate was increased markedly (P < 0.01), the expression of caspase-3 mRNA was increased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while survivin mRNA was decreased markedly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in SBE groups. CONCLUSION: SBE can induce apoptosis of SPCA-1 cells. The molecular mechanism may be related to up-regulating expression of caspase-3 and down-regulating expression of survivin genes.