title: [Effects of shikonin on the proliferation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the mechanism of shikonin for inducing the apoptosis of human promyelocytic leukemia cell HL-60.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of shikonin on the HL-60 cell proliferation were detected using MTT. The apoptosis rate was analyzed by Annexin-V/PI double staining. The expression level of the bcl-2 gene was detected using semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), thus analyzing the correlation between the bcl-2 expression level and the apoptosis of HL-60.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Shikonin could inhibit the proliferation of HL-60 cells with the concentration range of 1-8 microg/mL in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Two microg/mL shikonin could induce the apoptosis of HL-60 cells in a time-dependent manner. The expression level of bcl-2 was obviously down-regulated at 2 microg/mL shikonin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shikonin could induce the apoptosis of HL-60 cells. Its mechanism was correlated with down-regulation of the expression level of bcl-2.
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou (310053).
authors.forename: Zhi-Lu
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qi-Zhou
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009285:Naphthoquinones; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C016101:shikonin