The Effect Of Ellagic Acid On The Proliferation And Apoptosis Of Prostate Cancer Cell Line PC-3 Cells

Objective To investigate the effect of Ellagic Acid (EA ) on anti-proliferation and apoptosis induction in human prostate cancer PC-3 cell line in vitro and its mechanism.Methods Inhibitory effect on cell growth and induction of apoptosis were examined in vitro.○1 The human prostate cancer PC-3 cells were treated with EA in 0μg/ml,2.5μg/ml,5μg/ml,10μg/ml,20μg/ml for 12,24 ,48 hours. The cell viability was detected by MTT in all groups.○2 The cell cycle arrest and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry when PC-3 cells were treated with EA of diferent concertration in the 48 hours.○3 Hematoxylin-eosin(H.E) staining were performed to characterize cellular morphology changes when treated with EA 5μg/ml for 48 hours.○4 The immunocytochemistry method was used to assesse the expression of Caspase-3 and NF-κB protein when PC-3 cells were treated with EA 10ug/ml for 24 hours. Results1.EA significantly inhibited the proliferation and viability of the PC-3 cells in a time and dose dependent manner compared with the untreated control groups (all P < 0.05).2. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that treatment with EA resulted in cell-cycle arrest in the G1 phase and increasing the percentages of apoptotic cells in a dose-dependent manner.3. When PC-3 cells were treated with EA of the concentration of 5 ug/ml for 48 h, typical apoptotic changes was observed by H.E staining, including characteristic chromatin condensation, nuclear shrinkage, nuclear cleavage,apoptotic bodies and some cells were floating.4. The immunocytochemistry showed that Caspase-3 expression was higher and NF-κB expression was lower compared with control groups,when PC-3 cells were treated with EA 10ug/ml for 24 hours.Conclusions1. The growth and proliferation of human prostate cancer PC-3 cell line could be inhibited by Ellagic Acid and its degree of inhibiting depended on its concentration and the time.2. Ellagic Acid could induce apoptosis and arrest the G1/S phase in PC-3 cell line.3. When prostate cancer PC-3 cell line was cultured with Ellagic Acid for 24 hours, the express rate of Caspase-3 protein was increased obviously while that of NF-κB(P65)protein decreased in the cells of dealing group.4. Ellagic Acid may be used as an anti-tumor drug to induce apoptosis in the chemotherapy of tumor.