Study of matrine in inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis of human androgen independent prostate cancer cell line PC-3

Objective To investigate the effects of matrine on the proliferation,cell cycle,apoptosis of androgen independent prostate cancer (AIPC) cell line PC-3 in vitro. Methods PC-3 cells were treated by different concentrations of matrine. The inhibitory effect of matrine on the proliferation of PC-3 cells was observed by MTT method. The cell cycle of PC-3 cells treated by matrine was observed by flow cytometric assay. Apoptosis of PC-3 cells induced by matrine was determined with TUNEL and Annexin V/PI staining assay. Results MTT test showed that PC-3 cells treated by matrine had an inhibitory effect,which was significantly different from that of controls (P0.05). Matrine markedly inhibited cell proliferation of PC-3 in dose-and time-dependent manners. The optimal dose of matrine which inhibited PC-3 cells was 1.0 g/L and the best time of inhibition was at 48 h. Flow cytometric assay showed that the PC-3 cells treated by different doses of matrine were arrested in cell cycle progression at G0/G1 phase. The cell ratio at G0/G1 phase increased with the increase of matrine dose,which was significantly different from that of controls (P0.01). TUNEL and Annexin V/PI staining assay showed that matrine could obviously induce the apoptosis of PC-3 cells. The ratio of early and late apoptosis of PC-3 cells treated by matrine was increased in a dose-dependent manner (P0.05,P0.01). Conclusion Matrine could inhibit the proliferation of PC-3 cells in dose-and time-dependent manners in vitro. The inhibition mechanism was associated with arresting cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. Matrine could induce the apoptosis of PC-3 cells,which might be associated with the dose and action time of matrine.