RESUMO
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of berberine hydrochloride on the proliferation and apoptosis of HeLa229 human cervical cancer cells. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was performed to examine the cytotoxicity of berberine hydrochloride against HeLa229 cells. The effects of berberine hydrochloride on the apoptosis of HeLa229 cells was detected by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry, and the mRNA expression levels of p53, Bcell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) and cyclooxygenase2 (cox2) were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Berberine hydrochloride inhibited the proliferation of HeLa229 cells in a dosedependent manner; minimum cell viability (3.61%) was detected following treatment with 215.164 µmol/l berberine hydrochloride and the half maximal inhibitory concentration value was 42.93 µmol/l following treatment for 72 h. In addition, berberine hydrochloride induced apoptosis in HeLa229 cells in a dose and timedependent manner. Berberine hydrochloride upregulated the mRNA expression levels of p53, and downregulated mRNA expression levels of Bcl2 and cox2, in a dosedependent manner. In conclusion, berberine hydrochloride inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of HeLa229 cells, potentially via the upregulation of p53 and the downregulation of Bcl2 and cox2 mRNA expression levels.