Effects Of Total Flavonoids In Lycium Chinensis Leaves On Proliferation And Apoptosis Of Hepatoma Cell Line Hepg2

Aims:The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of total flavonoids in Lycium chinensis leaves on cell proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2cells) cultured in vitro. Methods:HepG2cells were treated with different doses of total flavonoids in Lycium chinensis leaves, the cell viability was detected using MTT assay. The morphological changes of the apoptotic cells were assessed by fluorescent Hoechst33258stain. The apoptotic rate was measured by flow cytometry. The apoptosis-associated protein expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3were analyzed by immunocytochemistry method. Results:The total flavonoids in Lycium chinensis leave can dose-dependently and time-dependently inhibit the cell viability of HepG2effectively when incubated either for48h or for72h. The HepG2was treated with total flavonoids in Lycium chinensis leaves in high dose for48h, the cell presented typical apoptosis characteristic. The maximum ratio of apoptosis is up to67.3%. The pro-apoptotic protein bax and caspase-3were increased, when the cell was incubated for a certain time. Conclusion:The total flavonoids in Lycium chinensis leaves can inhibit the cell viability of HepG2and induce apoptosis effectively. The proposed mechanism is involved in the up-regulation of pro-apoptotic protein bax, which break the cells homeostasis, and then activation of apoptotic protein caspase-3.