Inmbition of nodosin on cell proliferation and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in HepG2 cells

AIM:To investigate the effects of nodosin extracted from Chinese traditional medicine on the proliferation of HepG2 cells cultured in vitroand to detect the protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in HepG2 cells. METHODS:HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 μmol/L) of nodosin for 24 h. The morphological changes of HepG2 cells were observed under inverted microscope. The inhibitory rates of HepG2 cell growth were detected by MTT assay. The apoptotic rates and the protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS:Shrunken and suspended HepG2 cells increased with the increases in the concentrations of nodosin. The apoptotic rates and the expression of Bax increased with the increases in the doses of nodosin, while the expression of Bcl-2 decreased. CONCLUSION: Nodosin inhibits the growth of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of HepG2 cell growth is induced by decreasing Bcl-2 and increasing Bax, thus promoting cell apoptosis.