β-elemene induces apoptosis of K562 lenkemic cells

Objective To investigate the apoptosis inducing effect of β elemene on K562 leukemia cells.Methods Hoechst 33342 and PI fluorescence staining, DNA fragmentation, electron microscopy, flow cytometry, and immunocytochemistry were used to evaluate the effect of β elemene on K562 cells.Results β elemene heatment induced the formatin of apoptotic bodies and DNA ladder. The effect was dose and time dependent. The expression of bcl 2 was decreased in β elemene treated cells as compared with the untreated control cells.Conclusion β elemene exerts its cytotoxic effect on K562 lenkenmic cells by the induction of apoptosis.