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Induction of apoptosis in human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells by solamargine from Solanum nigrum L.

Authors Ding, Xia; Zhu, Fang-Shi; Li, Min; Gao, Si-Guo

Journal JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY , JAN 31 2012,2:139

DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2011.11.058 PubMed 22172325

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance: Solanum nigrum L (SNL), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb endowed with diuretic, antipyretic and hepatoprotective effects, has been used as a major ingredient of folk prescriptions for anticancer treatment in China.Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of solamargine (SM), a major steroidal alkaloid glycoside purified from SNL, on human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells and investigate the possible mechanism of SM.Materials and methods: The MU assay was used to evaluate the IC50 on tumor cell lines. The effect on morphology was observed with a light or fluorescence microscopy. The rate of apoptosis and the cell cycle were measured using flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of caspase-3 protein was measured by calorimetric assay.Results: SM significantly inhibited the growth of SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells and induced cell apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis revealed that SM caused cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Moreover. SM could up-regulate the expression of caspase-3.Conclusions: This study indicated that SM exerted potential anticancer activity on SMMC-7721 cells in vitro through the activation of caspase-3 and the regulation of the cell cycle progression to induce apoptosis and inhibit hepatoma cells proliferation. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Species covered 龙葵(变种) Solanum nigrum