Inhibitory effect of acetylshikonin on human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901 in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract

AIM:

To investigate the inhibitory effect of acetylshikonin on human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901 and its mechanism.

METHODS:

MTT assay was used to assess the inhibitory effect of acetylshikonin on proliferation of SGC-7901 cells. Apoptosis-inducing effect was determined by flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling with Hoechst staining. Expression of mRNA and protein in Bcl-2 and Bax was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Antitumor effect of acetylshikonin on a mouse SGC-7901 model was also determined.

RESULTS:

Forty-eight hours after treatment with acetylshikonin, MTT assay showed that acetylshikonin inhibited the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of acetylshikonin to SGC-7901 cells was 0.428 +/- 0.07 mg/L. Cell shrinkage, nuclear pyknosis and chromatin condensation, which are the characteristics of cell apoptosis, were observed in treated SGC-7901 cells and the percentage of apoptosis increased in a dose-dependent manner. Acetylshikonin down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and up-regulated the expression of Bax in the treated SGC-7901 cells compared with the controls. The experiment in vivo showed that 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg of acetylshikonin significantly inhibited the growth of tumor in the mouse SGC-7901 model, with an inhibitory rate of 25.00%-55.76%.

CONCLUSION:

Acetylshikonin inhibits the growth of SGC-7901 cells in vitro and in vivo by inducing cell apoptosis.

• Authors: Yun Zeng, Gang Liu, Li-Ming Zhou
• Journal: World journal of gastroenterology (World J Gastroenterol) Vol. 15 Issue 15 Pg. 1816-20 (Apr 21 2009) ISSN: 2219-2840 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19370777 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anthraquinones
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein
• Caspase 3
• acetylshikonin

Topics

• Animals
• Anthraquinones (pharmacology)
• Caspase 3 (metabolism)
• Cell Cycle (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor (drug effects, metabolism)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Stomach Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein (genetics, metabolism)