In Vitro Study on the Anti-Proliferation and Apoptosis of Ursolic Acid in Human ACC 83 cells

Objective:To assess the proliferation inhibition effects and apoptosis induction of ursolic acid on human ACC 83 cells.Methods:ACC-83 cell proliferation was measured with MTF assay.Cell cycle phase distribution and hypodiploid DNA were determined by flow cytometry.Morphological analysis were viewed with Wright-Giemsa stain.Two important apoptosis related genes Bcl-2 and Bax and the particular COX-2 protein were examined by Western-blot. Results:MTT assay showed that UA inhibited ACC-83 cell proliferation showed in a time- and dose-dependent manner. UA induced ACC-83 cell cycle arrested in S phase and the cell apoptosis characterized morphologically.COX-2 protein expression level decerased by UA in a dose-dependent manner,Bcl-2 portein expression decreased also in a dosedependent manner,but Bax expression remained unchanged.Conclusion:Ursolic acid can inhibit ACC-83 cell proliferation,and to a large number of cells accumulated in S phase,Ursolic acid may downregulate expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 and reduce the Bcl-2/Bax ratio to induce apoptosis.