title: Apoptosis in human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 induced by water-soluble macromolecular components of Artemisia capillaris Thunberg.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of water-soluble macromolecular components of Artemisia capillaris Thunberg (ACT) on human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 (SMMC-7721). The morphological changes of SMMC-7721 were observed under a light microscope and an electron microscope. Inhibition of proliferation was measured with a colorimetric MTT assay. It was discovered that ACT extract-treated cells exhibit morphological changes typical of apoptosis, including condensed chromatin and a reduction in volume. ACT extract at 25-200 microg/ml dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721. The 50% effective dose, evaluated on day 3 of exposure to the extract, was 64.52+/-3.53 microg/ml. Upon gel electrophoresis, the fragmented DNA showed a characteristic ladder pattern. Cell cycle analyses revealed that ACT induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Nanjing University, China.
authors.forename: Y Q
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: R X
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D019306:Artemisia / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D014867:Water; C022616:thiazolyl blue