Effects of total anthraquinone from Zhushaqi on proliferation and apoptosis of human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells

Objective: To study the effects of ZSQ on apoptosis and proliferation of human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells.Methods: These SMMC-7721 cells were treated with different dosages of ZSQ.The growth inhibition was detected by MTT assay and the morphological changes of the apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells were detected by HE staining and TUNEL labeling methods.Reaults: ZSQ remarkably inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner;After direct exposure to ZSQ for 48h,the live cancer cells showed typically morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis by HE staining and TUNEL.Conclusion: ZQS has significant anticancer activity on SMMC-7721 cells,and the anticancer mechanism is probably associated with the induction of cancer cell apoptosis.