Prooxidant activities of different doses of naringenin and its regulatory effect on the growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 cells

Objective Naringenin has a vast prospect of application because of its important biological activities. This study aims to explore the influence of different concentrations of naringenin on the growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 cells and its action mechanisms. Methods Using the MTT method,we measured the effects of naringenin on the growth of CNE2 cells after treated at the concentrations of 0,0. 005,0. 01,0. 02,0. 04,0. 06,0. 08,0. 1,0. 2,0. 4,and 0. 8 mg / mL for 24,48,and 72 hours. At 48 hours,we observed changes in the cycle of the cells treated with naringenin at 0,0. 02 and 0. 04 mg / mL by flow cytometry,in the apoptosis of the cells by Hochest 33258 staining and flow cytometry,in the level of reactive oxygen species( ROS) in the cells by DCFHDA staining,and in the mRNA expressions of C-fos,Bax and Bcl-2 by qPCR. Results Compared with the control group,naringenin at 0. 02 and 0. 04 mg / mL induced a low-level rise of ROS in the CNE2 cells( MFI: 5186 ± 183. 50 and 5508 ± 155. 37,P 0. 05),up-regulated the expression of C-fos( P 0. 05 or P 0. 01),and promoted the proliferation of the cells. However,naringenin at relatively high concentrations of 0. 2 and 0. 4 mg / mL significantly elevated the level of ROS( MFI: 10 758 ± 179. 82 and 11 241 ± 1 114. 45,P 0. 01),up-regulated the expression of Bax( P 0. 01), down-regulated that of Bcl-2( P 0. 01),induced the apoptosis( P 0. 01) and suppressed the proliferation of CNE2 cells. Conclusion Within a concentration range of 0. 005- 0. 8 mg /mL, naringenin may have two-way effects on the growth of CNE2 cells,a carcinogenic effect at a relatively low dose and a good anticancer effect at a relatively high dose.