Effect of Delisheng on apoptosis of liver cancer HepG2 cell line and its mechanism

AIM: To investigate the effect of Delisheng on the apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line and to explore the molecular mechanism.METHODS: The inhibitory effect of Delisheng on HepG2 cell line's proliferation in vitro was assessed by MTT assay.The cell line cycle changes and the apoptotic rate of the treated cell were detected by flow cytometry and the expressions of Caspase-3,Caspase-9 and Bcl-2(B cell lymphoma 2) were examined by immunocytochemical method and Western blot.RESULTS: Delisheng's effect on the proliferation of HepG2 cell line increased with the increasing drug dose and drug action time.Delisheng caused cell cycle arrest at S phase and significantly increased the apoptosis rate of the HepG2 cell line.The expressions of both Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 increased while Bcl-2 decreased,compared with those in blank group.CONCLUSION: Delisheng obviously increases HepG2 cell line's apoptotic rate and this apoptotic effect may relate to the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.