Effects of the extract of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus cheng f. (JA1) on induction of apoptosis of HepG2 in vitro and its molecular mechanisms.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects and the mechanisms of extract from a leguminous plant (Ammopiptanthus mongolicus cheng f.) (JA1) in northwest China on inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation of HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cell in vitro.


METHODS
The HepG2 cell line was used as target cells. The effect of JA1 on HepG2 cell growth was detected by microculture tetrazolium assay (MTT), flow cytometry assay, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and transmission electronic microscopy. The expressive effect of the wt-p53 in HepG2 cells was analyzed with p53 protein test-reagent.


RESULTS
JAI not only had significant anti-proliferative effects depending upon time and dosage, but also induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells. Apoptotic typical morphological changes were observed in JA1-treated HepG2 cells under transmission electronic microscope, "Sub-G1" phase peak occurred in flow cytometry and DNA "ladder" was found in DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. The expression of the wt-p53 increased in vitro, and JA1-treated HepG2 and the positive cell percentage of the wt-p53 protein also increased.


CONCLUSIONS
JA1 could obviously induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of HepG2 cells in vitro, and these effects are closely related with the increase of wt-p53 expression. JA1 can be used as a good source of medicinal plant for the treatment of hepatocarcinoma.
Jia
Lei
L
Key Laboratory of Arid and Pastoral Agroecology of Ministry of Education and School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China.
An
Li-Zhe
LZ
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D010936:Plant Extracts; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53