OBJECTIVETo study the effect of nano-liposome sustained elemene in inducing cell apoptosis of C6 glioma and to explore its influence on the expression of caspase-3 gene.

METHODSC6 glioma cells were cultured in medium with the same amount of nano-liposome sustained elemene and common elemene respectively, also in blank medium for control. The status of cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry at 0, 48 h and 72 h, and the expression of Caspase-3 protein was measured simultaneously by immunohistochemistry assay.

RESULTSMarked apoptosis presented in cells cultured in the medium with nano-liposome sustained elemene or common elemene at 48 h and 72 h, with the apoptotic rate significantly higher than that in the control. At the same time, Caspase-3 protein expression raised significantly in cells cultured in medium with either kinds of elemene, showing significant difference when compared with that in the control.

CONCLUSIONElemene has significant apoptosis promoting and Caspase-3 protein expression inducing effect on C6 glioma cells, which could be facilitated by nano-liposome bearing.