Effect of artesunate on the proliferation and apoptosis of melanoma A875 cells

Objective To investigate the influence of artesunate on the proliferation and apoptosis of human skin malignant melanoma A875 cells,and to explore its possible action mechanism.Methods The A875 cells were cultured with different concentration(10μg / ml ~ 80μg / ml) of artesunate for 48 hours in vitro.The inhibition ratio was examined by MTT method,and apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry.The changes of protein expression of Caspase-3,Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 were detected by Western Blot.Results A875 cells proliferation was significantly inhibited by artesunate in a concentration-dependent manner.The apoptosis of A875 cells was accelerated in a concentration-dependent manner too.With the increase of drug concentration,the protein expression levels of Caspase-3,Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 were gradually increased.Conclusion Artesunate can induce apoptosis of A875 cells via death receptor pathway and mitochondrial pathway,as a result,artesunate has an obvious inhibition effect on A875 cells proliferation.