Effects of Solamum lyratum Thunb on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma Bel7402 cells

ObjectiveTo observe the effects and the metabolism of Solamum lyratum Thunb on proliferation and apoptosis of Bel7402 cells in vitro.MethodsThe inhibitory effects of Solamum lyratum Thunb on proliferation of Bel7402 cells were measured by methy thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)colorimetric assay.Bel7402 cells were treated with various doses of Solamum lyratum Thunb.We observed apoptosis of Bel7402 cells with fluorescence microscope and detected the levels of survivin and bax gene expression with reverse transcriptase(RT)-PCR.ResultsSolamum lyratum Thunb inhibited the proliferation of Bel7402 cells(P<0.01).The apoptosis rates of Bel7402 cells in different dose groups(4,8,16 mg/mL)were 10.98%,17.02%,and 26.78%,respectively,and the rates were significantly higher than that of the control group(6.18%, P<0.01).After 48 hours,the levels of survivin gene expression in different dose groups were 0.43±0.01,0.38±0.02, and 0.29±0.01,respectively,and were significantly lower than that of the control group(0.65±0.05,P<0.01).The levels of bax gene expression in different dose groups were 0.47±0.05,0.56±0.04,and 0.73±0.06,respectively,and were significantly higher than that of the control group(0.36±0.02,P<0.01).ConclusionSolamum lyratum Thunb has anti-tumor effect on Bel7402 cells and could induce apoptosis of Bel7402 cells probably through dow n-regulatoin of survivin gene expression and up-regulation of bax gene expression.