Inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis of human malignant melanoma cell line A375 by matrine

【Objective】To investigate the effects of matrine on the proliferation of human malignant melanoma cell line A375.【Methods】MTT [3-(4, 5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3, 5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide] method was used to measure the levels of the proliferation of A375 cultured with matrine in different concentrations. The apoptosis rates of treated tumor cells were tested by FCM. The micro morphology of apoptotic tumor cells was observed by light microscopy and electronic microscopy.【Results】The proliferation of A375 was obviously inhibited by matrine which was more than 0.5 g/L in concentration in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory rate and ratio of apoptotic cells increased as the drug concentration elevated. The morphological changes of apoptosis were found by light microscopy and electronic microscopy, shown as enlargement of cell body and condensation of chromatin. 【Conclusion】Matrine can inhibit the proliferation of human malignant melanoma cell line A375 and induce the apoptosis.