title: Induction of apoptosis in human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells by solamargine from Solanum nigrum L.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Solanum nigrum L. (SNL), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb endowed with diuretic, antipyretic and hepatoprotective effects, has been used as a major ingredient of folk prescriptions for anticancer treatment in China.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of solamargine (SM), a major steroidal alkaloid glycoside purified from SNL, on human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells and investigate the possible mechanism of SM.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MTT assay was used to evaluate the IC(50) on tumor cell lines. The effect on morphology was observed with a light or fluorescence microscopy. The rate of apoptosis and the cell cycle were measured using flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of caspase-3 protein was measured by colorimetric assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SM significantly inhibited the growth of SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells and induced cell apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis revealed that SM caused cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Moreover, SM could up-regulate the expression of caspase-3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated that SM exerted potential anticancer activity on SMMC-7721 cells in vitro through the activation of caspase-3 and the regulation of the cell cycle progression to induce apoptosis and inhibit hepatoma cells proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Nanjing Agricutural University, Nanjing, PR China. dingxia@njau.edu.cn
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Fang-Shi
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Si-Guo
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003124:Colorimetry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D059565:G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012991:Solanaceous Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032324:Solanum nigrum / Q000737:chemistry; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012991:Solanaceous Alkaloids; C026609:beta-solamarine; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3