AIM To investigate the effect of allicin on the regulation of VEGF mRNA expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS Hepatocellular carcinoma cells were treated with the concentration 10 ?g?L -1 allicin in culture medium,and then the relative VEGF mRNA level at 8 h in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells was evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction using HPRT(hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase)as an internal control standard. RESULTS The expression of VEGF gene mRNA was inhibited obviously by allicin. Compared with control group, the relative expression level of VEGF gene mRNA was decreased by about 66 36%( P

Objective\ To investigate apoptosis of Hepatoma BEL\|7402 cells induced by allicin. Methods\ The inhibit effect of allicin on BEL\|7402 cells was investigated with MTT assay. Apoptosis was ascertained by cell morphology under light microscope, electron microscope and flow cytometry. Results\ BEL\|7402 cells were suppressed with dose and time dependent relationship after exposed to allicin of 10,20,40 mg/L for vairous lengths of time. Exposed to allicin at 60 mg/L for 3 hours, BEL\|7402 cells showed typical morphology characters of apoptosis: the microvilli of the cell surface disappeared, the cell shrink and decreased in volume and blebs or ball\|like bodies appeared. Typical nuclear condensation, margination and fragmentation were observed. Apoptotic cells were of trypan blue\|rejected staining. Percentage of apoptotic cells of control group and inductive group was 2\^02?0\^37%,78\^48?3\^15% respectively by trypan blue, and 1\^78?0\^48%, 74\^07?3\^94% by flow cytometry. Cells in G\-0/G\-1, S, G\-2/M phases of control group before induction were 47\^66?2\^72%, 22\^06?2\^04%, 30\^25?3\^78% respectively.Each of them is lower than the percentage of apoptotic cells. Conclusion\ Allicin induced apoptosis of hepatoma BEL\|7402 cells.Apoptotic cells were supposed to be initiated in some phases of cell cycle.\;[