Extracts of Fagopyrum cymosum and Rosa roxburghii Tratt inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of human gastric and pulmonary carcinoma cells

Objective To investigate the effects of extract of Fagopyrum cymosum(FR) and Rosa roxburghii Tratt (CL) on the human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 and pulmonary carcinoma A549 cell line.Methods Human gastriccarcinoma SGC-7901 cells and pulmonary carcinoma A549 cells were exposed to FR and/or CL in vitro.The inhibitory effects were evaluated by MTT assay.Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.The expressions of Ki-67,Bax and Bcl-2 in mRNA and protein level were quantified by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results The growth inhibition of SGC-7901 and A549 was dose-dependent after exposure to the FR or CL alone.The inhibitory rates of FR at IC30,CL at IC30and FR plus CL at 1/2 IC30were(33.89±0.22)%,(30.86±1.17)% and(44.25±0.50)% for SGC-7901;and(30.91±1.72)%,(29.07±1.41)% and(43.62±2.15)% for A549,respectively.The cells apoptotic rates increased in order of control,FR,CL and FR plus CL group(P0.05).Compared with the FR or CL,the expressions of Ki-67 and Bcl-2 mRNA/protein in FR plus CL group were decreased but the expression of Bax mRNA/protein was increased,both for SGC-7901 and A549 cells.Conclusion Both FR and CL have inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects on the human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 and pulmonary carcinoma A549 cell line,and the combination of FR and CL shows a synergistic effect.