Effects of Curcumin on Growth and Apoptosis of Human Hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells

Objective To investigate the effects of curcumin on growth and apoptosis of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells.Methods The human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells were treated with 10,30 and 90μmol /L curcumin for 48 hours respectively in vitro.The inhibition rate of SMMC-7721 cells were detected by MTT assay;by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining analysis,cell apoptotic rate were measured;by AO staining,the morphological and biochemical character changes of apoptosis cells were observed under the culture condition with different concentrations of curcumin.Results MTT method revealed that curcumin could inhibit the proliferation of hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells in a dose dependent manner.Each group had significant difference compared with negative control group(P0.05).Flow cytometry analysis showed that curcumin could induce apoptosis of SMMC-7721,apoptotic rates were increased obviously with the adding up of curcumin concentration.Except low dose group,apoptotic rates of all the other group had extremely significant difference with the control one(P0.01).Result of the AO staining showed that the cell density decreased with the increased of curcumin concentration and a small number of cells appeared obviously apoptotic morphological characteristics.It suggested that Curcumin could induce SMMC-7721 apoptosis in a dose dependent manner.Conclusion Curcumin could inhibit the proliferation of hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells and induce apoptosis in a dose dependent manner.