title: [Kaempferol-induced apoptosis of human esophageal squamous carcinoma Eca-109 cells and the mechanism].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the growth-inhibiting and pro-apoptotic effect of kaempferol in human esophageal squamous carcinoma Eca-109 cells and explore the mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of kaempferol on Eca-109 cell proliferation in vitro was measured by MTT assay. TUNEL staining was used to detect the cell apoptosis following kaempferol treatment. The changes in Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expressions in response to kaempferol treatment were determined by RT-PCR, and the caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities were evaluated using colorimetric assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kaempferol significantly inhibited Eca-109 cell proliferation (P<0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner and induced obvious cell apoptosis. RT-PCR showed that after kaempferol treatment caused up-regulated Bax and down-regulated Bcl-2 mRNA expression. The colorimetric assay revealed significantly increased caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities in Eca-109 cells following kaempferol treatment (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kaempferol can induce apoptosis of Eca-109 cells via a mitochondria-dependent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Zhengzhou Peoples Hospital, Zhengzhou, China. liruijunzy@163.com
authors.forename: Rui-jun
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jia-zhuan
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Gui-ju
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C494826:BAX protein, human; D044949:Kaempferols; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C006552:kaempferol; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9