title: [Study on anti-proliferation activity and the mechanisms of alkaloid monomers from Gelsemium elegans on HepG2 cell in vitro].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of alkaloid monomers from Gelsemium elegans on proliferation of HepG2 cell in vitro and the possible mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  MTT assay was used to measure the inhibitory of three alkaloid monomers on HepG2 cell in vitro. The most effective fraction was chosen to test whether the effect was in time-and dose-dependent manner. The morphological changes were observed by the light microscope and the cell cycle alteration through the flow cytometric assay. The activity of Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 were detected by a Caspases colorimetric assay kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that koumine, Gelsemine and Gelsenicine could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cell and Gelsenicine, the most effective fraction, was clearly in dose- and time-dependent manners, while exhibited low cytotoxicity to the Vero cell. The cell treated with Gelsenicine for 48 h showed distinctive morphological changes. The cells treated with 200 and 400 microg/mL shrinked and fell off from the bottom. At the same time, the cells were arrested at S phase and the apoptosis increased apparently. The activity of Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 was increased in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three alkaloid monomers from Gelsemium elegans, especially Gelsenicine, could inhibit proliferation of HepG2 cell obviously. The mechanism may be related to cell cycle arrest and activation of Caspase-3, Caspase 8 and Caspase-9.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. gaomy_04@163.com
authors.forename: Ming-Ya
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Wei-Zai
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yan-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chang-Shu
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Dong-Mei
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiang-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D026121:Indole Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D029541:Loganiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; C571027:gelsenicine; C515085:koumine; C063230:gelsemine; D020169:Caspases