[Inducement effect of synthetic indiosides from Solanum indicum L.on apoptosis of human hepatocarcinoma cell line Bel-7402 and its mechanism].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Solanum indicum L., an anti-inflammatory and wound-healing herb in traditional Chinese medicine, is enriched of unique dioscins, that is, indiosides. Our previous studies revealed that several synthetic indiosides from Solanum indicum L. have potent anticancer effects. This study was to investigate the anticancer mechanism of synthetic indiosides I from Solanum indicum L.

METHODS

Human hepatocarcinoma Bel-7402 cells were treated with different concentrations of indiosides. The inhibitory rate of cell proliferation and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of indiosides were detected by the acid phosphatase assay (APA). Cell morphology was observed under optical microscope with crystal violet staining. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

Indiosides significantly inhibited proliferation of Bel-7402 cells: when treated with indioside I for 72 h, the IC50 value was 4.2 microg/ml, cell density was decreased, and bubbles were observed in cytoplasm. Western blot showed that the cytoplasmic level of cytochrome c was increased significantly, Caspase-3 was activated, and poly (ADR-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was cleavaged after indioside I treatment.

CONCLUSION

Indiosides have dose-dependent inhibitory effect on proliferation of Bel-7402 cells, and can induce cell apoptosis through mitochondria-dependent pathway.