Allicin Induces Apoptosis of U14 Cells by Regulating Bcl-2/Bax

Objective To explore the effect of allicin on the apoptosis of mouse cervical carcinoma U14 cells and its mechanisms of action.Methods Cultured U14 cells were divided into control group,5 mg·L-1 allicin treatment group,10 mg·L-1 allicin treatment group and 20 mg·L-1 allicin treatment group.MTT assays and flow cytometry were used to analyze the proliferation and apoptosis of U14 cells,respectively.RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 at the mRNA and protein levels,respectively. Results After treatment with allicin for 24,48 and 72 hours,the inhibitory rates of cell proliferation were,respectively,(6.6±1.41)%,(25.5±2.89)% and(58.9±1.66)% in 5 mg·L-1 allicin treatment group,(23.5±2.79)%,(47.9±8.78)% and(78.9±1.19)% in 10 mg·L-1 allicin treatment group,and(58.9±1.65)%,(69.5±3.72)% and(92.6±7.33)% in 20 mg·L-1 allicin treatment group.Compared with control group,allicin treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation of U14 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner(P0.05).The apoptotic rates were(3.23±0.35)%,(9.22±0.55)%,(22.34±1.53)% and(35.73±1.98)% in control group,5 mg·L-1 allicin treatment group,10 mg·L-1 allicin treatment group and 20 mg·L-1 allicin treatment group,respectively.There were significant differences among the four groups(P0.05).Moreover,mRNA and protein expression of Bax was up-regulated while mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated by treatment with 10 or 20 mg·L-1 allicin compared with control group(P0.05).Conclusion Allicin can induce the apoptosis of U14 cells via up-regulating Bax and down-regulating Bcl-2.