Inhibitory effects of allicin on HL-60 cell proliferation and its induction of apoptosis

Aim To investigate the effects of allicin on the proliferation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells,and to explore the underlying mechanism.Methods The cell viability and colony formation were detected by MTT assay.Apoptotic cells were tested by means of TUNEL labeling.RT-PCR was used to analyze the bcl-2 mRNA expressions.Results HL-60 cell growth was significantly inhibited by allicin in dose and time dependent manners.Cell colony formation obviously decreased.The typical hypo-diploid pea J apoptotic peaJ appeared in each dose group.Apoptosis occured in a dose-dependent manner.And its later stages were identified by TUNEL labeling methods respectively,and bcl-2/bax was decreased.The expression of bcl-2 mRNA was down-regulated in a time-dependent manner after treatment with allicin at different time points.Conclusion Allicin effectively inhibits growth and induces apoptosis on HL-60 cells,which may be related with the down-regulation of expressions of bcl-2.