The Effect of Salvianolic Acid B on Growth Inhibition and Apoptosis Induction in Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cells

[Purpose] To observe the effect of salvianolic acid B on growth inhibition and apoptosis induction in breast cancer MCF-7 cells.[Methods] The effect of salvianolic acid B on inhibition of MCF-7 cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay,and the cellular morphologic apoptosis was observed by Hoechst33258 staining.Cell flow cytometry was utilized to observe the apoptosis rate and cell cycle of MCF-7 cells incubated with salvianolic acid B for 48h.Expression of caspase-3 was detected by Western Blot.[Results] Salvianolic acid B obviously inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner.Fluorescence staining indicated that the MCF-7 cells showed some obvious apoptosis characteristics such as,nuclear condensation,fragmentation,chromatin condensation and apoptotic body formation,when the cells cultured with salvianolic acid B(0.7mg/ml) for 24,48 and 72h.FCM assay indicated that apoptosis rate and percentages of MCF-7 cells in S phase gradually increased after incubated with salvianolic acid B for 48h.Western Blot showed that the expression level of caspase-3 protein gradually rose with the increase of salvianolic acid B concentration.[Conclusion] Salvianolic acid B can inhibit cell growth and induce cell apoptosis,which might relate to S stage arrested and upregalation of caspase-3 expression in MCF-7 cells.