Alpinetin is a natural
flavonoid widely distributed in Zingiberaceae. Previous studies have demonstrated that
alpinetin markedly inhibits tumour growth. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumour effects of
alpinetin are unclear. Bcl‑2‑associated X
protein (Bax) translocation is known to activate the mitochondrial‑dependent endogenous apoptosis pathway. The aim of the current study was to investigate the roles of Bax and the mitochondrial pathway during alpinetin‑induced
gastric cancer cell apoptosis and the effects of
alpinetin on the cell cycle. Human
gastric cancer cells were treated with various doses of
alpinetin and an MTT assay was performed to measure cell viability, flow cytometry to measure the apoptotic rate, changes in the cell cycle and mitochondrial membrane potential and western blot analysis to detect the expression levels of relevant
proteins. Results demonstrate that
alpinetin induces apoptosis in human
gastric cancer cells in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. During the early stages of apoptosis,
alpinetin may alter mitochondrial membrane potential leading to release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, activation of
caspase family members and ultimately apoptosis of human
gastric cancer cells. Results of the present study indicate that alpinetin‑induced human
gastric cancer cell apoptosis is associated with the mitochondrial pathway.