Effects of salvianolic acid B on growth inhibition and apoptosis induction of ovarian cancer SKOV3.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of salvianolic acid B (Sal B) on cell proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3, livin, and caspase-3 gene expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 was cultured in vitro and the cell proliferation was detected by MTT method. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were measured by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry. Karyon morphology was observed by Hoechst33258 fluorescence staining. Livin and caspase-3 expressions were assayed using western blot. RESULTS: Sal B with different concentrations had an inhibition effect on growth of SKOV3 in vitro and the inhibitory effect was strengthened with the increase of Sal B concentration, which showed an obvious dose-effect relationship and the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 45.6 μmol/L. The proportion of GO/GI phase increased and that of S phase decreased after treatment with Sal B. In addition, the apoptosis rate increased significantly with the increasing of Sal B concentration. Results of Hoechst33258 fluorescence staining showed that cell apoptosis appeared after effect of Sal B with the characteristics of cell shrinkage, appearing vacuoles in cells, condensed chromatin and fracture, etc. Sal B had some inhibitory effects on livin expression in SKOV3 cell but promoted the expression of caspase-3. The corresponding effects were enhanced with the increase of drug dosage. CONCLUSIONS: Sal B has obvious effects on inhibiting growth and promoting apoptosis of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cell, which may be realized by downregulating livin expression, upregulating caspase-3 expression, and blocking the cell cycle.