In vitro induction of apoptosis by the forsythia ethanol extract LQ-4 in human cervical cancer Hela cells

Objective To investigate the apoptosis of Hela cells induced in vitro by LQ-4 which was extracted from Forsythia. Methods The inhibitory rate of cell proliferation was measured by MTT. The morphological changes effect of LQ-4-induced apoptosis was assessed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM). DNA agarose electrophoresis was used to detect the fragmentation of DNA induced by LQ-4. High Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry was used to identify the antitumor active ingredients in LQ-4. Results MTT result indicated that different concentrations of LQ-4(12.5-100 μg/ml) at different time had inhibitory effect on the proliferation of Hela cells in a time-dose-dependent manner. The IC50 for 12, 24 and 48 h groups were 97.68, 39.16 and 25.83 μg/ml respectively. TEM showed the typical morphological features in Hela cells after exposure to LQ-4. DNA agarose gel electrophoresis analysis showed an obvious DNA ladder could be observed in LQ-4-treated group. High Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry results confirmed the existence of antitumor active ingredients in LQ-4 which include pentacyclic triterpenoids. Conclusion LQ-4 has the effects of inhabiting growth and inducing apoptosis in Hela cells.