title: Synergic effects of artemisinin and resveratrol in cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate whether resveratrol (Res) combined with artemisinin (ART) possess synergistic effect on different cancer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The viability of HepG2 and HeLa cells treated with ART and Res was detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Combination index (CI) analysis and isobologram were used to assess the synergistic effect of ART and Res in different ratios. Wound-healing assay was used to investigate the migration rate. AO staining and fluorescent microscopy measurements were performed to detect the cell apoptosis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured with 2'7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MTT assay indicated that ART and Res inhibited the growth of HeLa and HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The combination of ART and Res exhibited the strongest anticancer effect at the ratio of 1:2 (ART to Res). The combination of the two drugs also markedly reduced the ability of cell migration. Apoptosis analysis showed that combination of ART and Res significantly increased the apoptosis and necrosis rather than use singly. Additionally, ROS levels were elevated by combining ART with Res.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, the present study suggested that ART and Res possessed the synergistic anti-tumor effect. ART in combination with Res could be an effective therapeutic strategy for cancer.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China.
authors.forename: Peichun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mengmeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.forename: Youran
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037621:Artemisinins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013267:Stilbenes; C031327:artemisinin; D000077185:Resveratrol