ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effects of XiaoAiping (XAP) with different concentrations and action time on the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells Hepa1-6. Methods The hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hepal-6 was treated with XAP at doses of 30 mg/ml(the high concentration group), 20 mg/ml (the moderate concentration group) and 10 mg/ml (the low concentration group) for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively. The MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effects of XAP on cell growth. The cell morphological alteration was observed after HE staining, and the apoptosis rates were assayed by flow cytometry. Results XAP produced an obvious time-and-dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the Hepa1-6 cells (P<0.01), and the cell differentiation trend was benign on light microscopy. After 48 h Hepa1-6 cells were incubated by XAP, there was an apoptosis peak, and the apoptosis rate was increased statistically in XAP group with the increasing XAP concentration [(7.65±0.40)%, (11.26±1.09)% and (26.71±0.85)% in low, moderate and high concentration group, respectively]compared with that in the controls (2.88 ±0.30)%, P < 0.01). Conclusion XAP produced obvious time-and-dose-dependent inhibitory effects on Hepa1-6 cells. Inhibiting DNA synthesize and inducing apoptosis of tumor cells may involve in the mechanisms of antineoplastic effect.