Effects of silybinon on proliferation and apoptosis of human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells

Objective: To investigate the effects of silybin on proliferation and apoptosis of human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. Methods: The cells were divided into the control group and the silybin groups( 200,400,800 μmol / L),each group was treated for 12,24 and 36 h. MTT method was used to detect the survival rate of cells; adhesion assay was used to determinate the adhesive rate of cells; TUNEL was used to detect the apoptotic rate of cells; Caspase-Glo3 /7 kits were used to detected the activity of Caspase3 /7. Results: ① The MTT results showed that silybin could inhibit the proliferation of HeLa cells on dose and time-dependent manners,the effect of 800 μmol/L silybin( 36 h) was the most obvious( P 0. 01). ②The adhesion experiment results showed that( 24 h) silybin significantly weakened the adhesive capacity of HeLa cells on dose-dependent manner( P 0. 01). ③The TUNEL results showed silybin( 24 h) could significantly increased the apoptotic rate of HeLa cells( P 0. 01). ④ In addition,after being treated with silybin( 24 h),the apoptotic rate of cells and the activity of Caspase3 /7 increased significantly( P 0. 01). Conclusion: Silybin treatment can effectively inhibit the proliferation of HeLa cells,the mechanisms of which are related to the activation of Caspase3 /7,silybin may be a potential new drug in treatment of cervical cancer.