Mechanism about Elemene antitumor activity on glioma cell

Objective To explore the activity of Elemene for glioma cell from the cellular and molecular level. Methods The human glioma cell U251 was cultured. The effect of Elemene for human glioma cell proliferation was studied by MTT assay. Cell cycle, Fas, PCNA, bcl-2, intracellular Ca~(2+) and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. Results Elemene exhibited antiproliferative effect on human glioma cell U251 markedly. The fifty percent inhibition on concentration (IC_(50)) of Elemene against glioma cells at different time points. 24 h was 40.60 μg/ml, the 48 h 38.14 μg/ml and the 72 h 34.35 μg/ml.Cell cycle was blocked in the S and G_2/M phases. The apoptosis ratio was increased by Annexin V staining markedly. Elemene decreased the gene expressions of PCNA and Fas, increased the intracellular Ca~(2+). There was no significant effect on the bcl -2 gene expression. Conclusion Elemene exhibits a marked antiproliferative effect on glioma cells and induces apoptosis by decreasing the expression of PCNA and increasing intracellular Ca~(2+). It also influences the expression of Fas. It might have no relationship with bcl-2 gene expression. Key words: Elemene; Glioma; Apoptosis