The influence of hepatic carcinoma HepG2 cell proliferation and its cellular autophagy by matrine

Objective To explore the impact of matrine on HepG2 cells proliferation and its cell autophagy, and provide the experimental basis for exploring effective liver cancer treatment methods. Methods Hepatic carcinoma HepG2 cells' proliferation inhibition rates and the change of cell cycle's each phase were explored by the MTT assay and flow cytometry. The hepatoma cell' autophagy was qualitative observed by fluorescence microscope. Results The proliferation of HepG2 cells was inhibited by Matrine, with the increaseed of the concentration and extension of time, the Inhibition rate of Hepatic carcinoma HepG2 cells was increased (P 0.05). Flow cytometric analysis showed that G1 phase cells in the cell cycle increased, S phase cells reduced in matrine group (P 0.05). Fluorescence microscope checked that autophagosome formed in HepG2 cells, and with the increase of the concentration, more and more autophagosome was formed in matrine groups. Conclusion Matrine played an inhibition on HepG2 cell proliferation. At the same time of inhibiting the HepG2 cells, matrine induced the generation of autophagy. The autophagy of hepatoma HepG2 cells induced by matrine mostly occurres in the G1 phase of the cell cycle.