Original Articles
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2009; 15(15): 1816-1820
Published online Apr 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1816
Inhibitory effect of acetylshikonin on human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901 in vitro and in vivo
Yun Zeng, Gang Liu, Li-Ming Zhou
Yun Zeng, Gang Liu, Li-Ming Zhou, Department of Pharmacology, West China Medical Center of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Yun Zeng, Gang Liu, Institute of Materia Medica and Department of Pharmacology, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637007, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Zeng Y and Liu G contributed equally to this work; Zeng Y, Liu G and Zhou LM designed the research; Zeng Y, Liu G and Zhou LM performed the research; Zeng Y, Liu G and Zhou LM analyzed the data; Zeng Y, Liu G and Zhou LM wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Li-Ming Zhou, Professor, Department of Pharmacology, West China Medical Center of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. zhou108@163.com
Telephone: +86-28-85503767
Fax: +86-28-85503767
Received: February 7, 2009
Revised: March 12, 2009
Accepted: March 17, 2009
Published online: April 21, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of acetylshikonin on human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901 and its mechanism.

METHODS: MTT assay was used to assess the inhibitory effect of acetylshikonin on proliferation of SGC-7901 cells. Apoptosis-inducing effect was determined by flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling with Hoechst staining. Expression of mRNA and protein in Bcl-2 and Bax was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Antitumor effect of acetylshikonin on a mouse SGC-7901 model was also determined.

RESULTS: Forty-eight hours after treatment with acetylshikonin, MTT assay showed that acetylshikonin inhibited the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of acetylshikonin to SGC-7901 cells was 0.428 ± 0.07 mg/L. Cell shrinkage, nuclear pyknosis and chromatin condensation, which are the characteristics of cell apoptosis, were observed in treated SGC-7901 cells and the percentage of apoptosis increased in a dose-dependent manner. Acetylshikonin down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and up-regulated the expression of Bax in the treated SGC-7901 cells compared with the controls. The experiment in vivo showed that 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg of acetylshikonin significantly inhibited the growth of tumor in the mouse SGC-7901 model, with an inhibitory rate of 25.00%-55.76%.

CONCLUSION: Acetylshikonin inhibits the growth of SGC-7901 cells in vitro and in vivo by inducing cell apoptosis.

Keywords: Acetylshikonin; Antitumor effect; SGC-7901 cells; Apoptosis