Effects of Chrysanthemum indicum extract on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97H cells

Objective To investigate the effect of Chrysanthemum indicum extract(CIE)on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)MHCC97H cells and explore its mechanism.Methods MHCC97H cells cultured in vitro,pretreatment MHCC97H cells with CIE 0.4,0.8,1.2 mg/ml and blank control group,proliferation of cells was measured by microculture tetrazolium(MTT).Cell apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP ΔΨm)were determined by flow cytometry.Cytochrome C,Caspase-9 and-3 expression was measured by Western blot.Results CIE significantly inhibited proliferation of MHCC97H cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner.Compared with control group,CIE0.4,0.8,1.2 mg/ml induced MHCC97H cell apoptosis,decreased MMP ΔΨm,and enhanced cytochrome C,Caspase-9 and-3 protein expressions,respectively(P＜0.05).Conclusion CIE can inhibit proliferation of MHCC97H cells,which might be associated with inducing cancer cell apoptosis.Mitochondrial pathway could be one that CIE induce cancer cell apoptosis. Key words: Carcinoma hepatocellular; Chrysanthemum indicum; Apoptosis; MHCC97H; Mitochondrial membrane potential