OBJECTIVETo study the anti-cancer effect of matrine (Mat) on U937 cell line and its possible molecular mechanism.

METHODThe cells were cultured in medium containing either 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, or 0.5 g x L(-1) of Mat. The morphological alteration was observed by inverted microscopy and electron microscopy. Cell proliferation was analyzed by Try pan blue staining and MTT. The method of Western Blot was used to detect phosphorylation activity of MAPK.

RESULTMatrine had a significant inhibitory effect on proliferation of U937 cell line at the concentration of 0.2 g x L(-1). Treated with matrine of 0.2 g x L(-1) for 48 h, U937 cells became smaller and appeared more round than previously. The number of U937 cells showing apoptosis increased with elevation of the concentration of the matrine. Matrine had an ability of inhibiting the activity of ERK and increasing the activities of p38 and JNK to some degree in U937 cells.

CONCLUSIONMatrine can inhibit the proliferation of U937 cell line in vitro and induce its apoptosis possibly through inhibiting the activity of ERK and increasing the activities of p38 and JNK in U937 cells.