[Inhibitory effects of beta-carotene on hepatic cancer cell line SMMC-7721].
The inhibitory effect of beta-carotene on the proliferation of hepatic cancer was studied. Cells from a hepatic cancer cell line SMMC-7721 were incubated in culture media with 20, 40 and 80 mumol/L beta-carotene for 12, 24 and 48 h respectively. MTT test, Trypan blue exclusion test and DNA gel electrophoresis were used. The results of MTT test revealed that beta-carotene (20-80 mumol/L) could inhibit the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose-dependent manner. DNA gel electrophoresis showed that the apoptosis of hepatic cancer cells could be induced by beta-carotene (40 mumol/L). It is concluded that the proliferation of hepatic cancer cells inhibited by beta-carotene, probably through interfering DNA metabolism and inducing cell apoptosis.
Luo
W
W
Department of Nutritional and Food Hygiene, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710033, China. lulianj@fmmu.edu.cn
Wang
W
W
Li
B
B
Chen
Y
Y
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene