title: [Inhibitory effect of cucurbitacin E on the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells and its mechanism].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are various biological activities of cucurbitacin E (CuE), including antitumor effect, anti-chemical carcino-genesis, liver protection, and enhancement of the immunity, and so on. This study was to investigate the effect of CuE on proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction of ovarian cancer ES-2 cells, and to explore the mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  ES-2 cells were treated with different concentrations of CuE for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Cell proliferation was tested by MTT assay. The morphologic changes and apoptosis were observed under inverted microscope and fluorescent microscope. Cell cycle distribution was evaluated with flow cytometry. The expression of p-STAT3 was determined by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of ES-2 significantly decreased as the concentration of CuE increased or the time prolonged. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the ratio of ES-2 cells treated 1 micromol/L CuE for 24 h increased both in S phase [from (10.55+/-0.91)% to ( 16.31 +/- 4.61) % ] and in G(2)/M phase [from (18.53+/-1.43)% to (58.34 +/- 5.77)%], while decreased in G(1) phase [from (73.13 +/-4.70)% to (23.12 +/- 5.45)%] (P<0.05). The marked morphological changes of cell apoptosis were clearly observed in ES-2 cells treated with CuE. CuE inhibited the STAT3 phosphorylation in ES-2 cell in a dose- dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CuE can inhibit ES-2 proliferation and induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, which may be related to the decreased expression of the intracellular STAT3 phosphorylation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Lei
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Xue-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yan-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Mei-Xia
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D014315:Triterpenes; C102326:cucurbitacin E