Nitidine chloride inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells by suppressing the ERK signaling pathway.

Nitidine chloride (NC) is a natural bioactive phytochemical alkaloid that has displayed anticancer activity in various types of cancer. However, no evidence has been reported for the direct effect of NC on CRC cell proliferation and apoptosis, and the underling mechanisms to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of NC on the apoptosis and proliferation of CRC cells. The viability and proliferation of CRC cells was measured by MTT assay and a [3H] thymidine uptake assay. Apoptosis was measured using a flow cytometric apoptosis assay and TUNEL staining. The expression levels of apoptotic‑regulated proteins in addition to extracellular signal‑regulated kinase (ERK) were measured by western blot analysis following stimulation with NC. The results indicated that NC inhibited the proliferation of HCT116 cells in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. Additionally, apoptotic induction by NC treatment was confirmed. Furthermore, NC was demonstrated to significantly upregulate the expression of Bax, p53, cleaved caspase‑3 and ‑9 and downregulate the expression of Bcl‑2. Treatment with NC reduced the phosphorylation of ERK and by using an ERK inhibitor, U0126, the roles of NC in apoptotic induction and the inhibition of proliferation were further demonstrated. These results demonstrated that NC inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of CRC cells via the ERK signaling pathway.