Pro apoptotic effect of neosedumoside III on human hepatocellular carcinoma hepG2 cells and SMMC 7721 cells through G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and regulate caspase-cascade pathway

Purpose: NeosedumosideIII (Neo) is a megastigmanes and belongs to monocyclic sesquiterpenoids compound with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and pharmacological activities. In order to explore the anti-cancer effect and possible mechanism of Neo, the study examined the anti-proliferation and apoptosis effect of Neo against human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and SMMC-772 cells and related mechanism in vitro.

Methods:The anti-proliferation effect of Neo was detected on HepG2 cells and SMMC-772 cells by MTT assay and IC50 with increasing dose and time. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometer. The changes of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 proteins were detected by western blotting.

Results: The results indicated that Neo could inhibited proliferation of HepG2 cells and SMMC-772 cells in vitro and promoted apoptosis, it significantly induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells and SMMC-772 cells arrested cell cycle at G0/G1 phase in a dose-dependent manner, reduce the expression of Bcl-2 protein, and increase the expression of Bax and Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 proteins.

Conclusion: Neo could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells and SMMC-7721 cells in vivo which suggested that it might be served as a promising candidate for the treatment of liver cancer.