Gambogic acid induces apoptosis of human liver cancer Bel-7402 cell line

Objective To investigate the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis of human liver cancer Bel-7402cell line induced by GA in vetro.Methods The cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay.The cell apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry.The expressions of Bcl-2and Bax mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results GA inhibited the proliferation of Bel-7402cells in the does-and time-dependent manners.As the concentration of GA increased,the apoptosis rate of the cells increased.Meanwhile,GA induced G2 /M cell cycle arrest.The expressions of Bax mRNA and protein were upregulated while those of Bcl-2 were downregulated.Conclusion GA inhibits cell proliferation and enhances cell apoptosis,which may be related to the upregulation of Bax gene expression,downregulation of Bcl-2gene expression and the cell cycle arrest.