title: [Proportion of Coptidis rhizoma and Evodiae fructus in the compound preparation: its effect in inducing apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of water extracts of Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus (CREF) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric carcinoma cells (SGC-7901) and determine the optimal proportion of Coptidis rhizoma to Evodiae fructus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The growth inhibition of SGC-7901 cells treated with the water extracts of CREF of varying proportions was tested with MTT assay. The cell apoptotic rate and mitochondrial membrane potential were analyzed with flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The water extract of CREF with Coptidis Rhizoma: Evodiae Fructus proportions at 1:6, 2:5, 3:4, 4:3, 5:2, and 6:1 all significantly inhibited the growth of SGC-7901 cells after a 24-h or 48-h treatment (P<0.05). The growth inhibition and cell death ratio both exhibited a dose-dependent pattern of Coptidis Rhizoma. Flow cytometry analysis showed that, after treatment of the cells with CREF at the proportions of 1:6, 2:5, 3:4, 4:3, 5:2, and 6:1, the apoptotic rate were (8.50 ∓ 1.59)%, (9.90 ∓ 1.01)%, (17.15∓1.68)%, (21.55 ∓ 1.97)%, (34.10 ∓ 1.06)% and (34.40 ∓ 1.02)%, respectively, all significantly higher than that in the control group [(1.69 ∓ 1.91)%, P<0.05]. JC-1 Kit staining showed that mitochondrial membrane potential of SGC-7901 cells was decreased and the ratio of green to red fluorescence increased significantly after incubation with CREF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CREF can inhibit the growth and induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells, and the strongest effect is achieved at the optimal proportion of Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus at 6:1.
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. cspqx@163.com
authors.forename: Qiu-xian
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Da-jian
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jue
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Hong-bing
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Zhi-xian
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Mo
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D000089042:Coptis chinensis; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032086:Evodia / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C107393:Coptidis rhizoma extract