Effects of cryptotanshinone on proliferation and apoptosis of Helacell line of cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the proliferation effects and apoptosis induction of cryptotanshinone on Hela cell line of cervical cancer. METHOD: The MTT assay was used to detect the growth inhibition rates of Hela cells at 24, 48, 72 h which cultured with cryptotanshinone in different concentrations. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. The protein expressions of E6, p53 and p21 were studied by Western blot. RESULT: The different concentrations (0.5-16 mg x L(-1)) of cryptotanshinone had cytotoxicity on Hela cells, which were clearly dose and time-dependent. The IC50 of 24, 48, 72 h were 17.8, 8.17, 6.55 mg x L(-1), respectively. Cells were treated with cryptotanshinone which had significant effects on cell cycle of Hela cell, and induced apoptosis. Western blot showed cryptotanshinone decreased expressions of HPV E6 and increased expressions of p53 and p21 proteins. CONCLUSION: Cryptotanshinone had significant cytotoic and radiosensitization effects on cervical cancer Hela cells. One of the mechanism may be that it might make significant G0/G1 phase arrest and induced apoptosis, a decrease in S phase, and restore the function of p53 to induce apoptosis in Hela cells to kill the tumor cell.