Effect of β-elemonic Acid on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Hepatocellular Car-cinoma Cells and Its Mechanism
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of β-elemonic acid(β-EA)on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)prolifera-tion and apoptosis and its mechanism.CCK8 assay was used to detect the effects of β-EA on the cell viability of human HCC cells Huh7 and PLC/PRF/5.Annexin V-FTTC/7AAD staining was used to detect cell apoptosis.The effect of β-EA on cell cycle of HCC cells was detected by flow cytometry.The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins Bc12,BAX,cleaved-caspase 3 and cell cycle related pro-teins CDK1 and Cyclin B1 were detected by Western blot.The molecular mechanism of β-EA inhibiting the proliferation of HCC cells was predicted by network pharmacology,and the protein expression of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was detected.The growth inhibi-tion effect of β-EA on HCC was confirmed by constructing H22 subcutaneous transplantation tumor model in vivo.The results showed that β-EA significantly inhibited Huh7 and PLC/PRF/5 cell viability,induced cell apoptosis and G2/M cell arrest.The expression of pro-apoptotic protein cleaved-caspase 3 and BAX was up-regulated,and the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bc12,cell cycle protein Cyclin B1,cycle-dependent kinases CDK1,p-PI3K,and p-AKT was down-regulated.The subcutaneous tumor transplantation model confirmed that β-EA can effectively reduce tumor weight,tumor volume,and Ki67 expression.The results of this study suggest that β-EA can induce apoptosis and G2/M cell arrest of HCC cells through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.