This article was aimed to study the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis by β-el-emene extract from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Rhizoma Zedoariae on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells, as well as the effect on expression of apoptosis-related proteins in liver cancer-burdened H22 mice. Human HepG2 cells were cultured in vitro. MTT method was used in the determination of β-elemene on cell prolif-eration. Apoptosis of cells were detected by the Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining method. Through the establish-ment of liver cancer-burdened H22 mice model, the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis-related protein expression by β-elemene on tumor-burdened mice were observed. The results showed that β-elemene inhib-ited HepG2 cell proliferation, which was dose- and time-dependent. Annexin V-FITC/PI method detected early apoptotic cells. Inhibitions of tumor growth on tumor-burdened mice from different groups were different. Inhibition of tumor growth in the high-dose β-elemene group was relatively low, and that of the middle-dose was more obvi-ous. It was concluded that β-elemene can effectively inhibit human HepG2 cells proliferation. The inhibition on pro-liferation of cancer cells was through the inducing of cell apoptosis. It was also related to the upregulation of apopto-sis-related protein Caspase-3 and downregulation of NF-κB P65.

Background and purpose:Traditional Chinese medicine with notable effect and little adverse reaction is increasingly concerned about the medical profession because of its great potential and advantage in treating pancreatic carcinoma. In this experiment, we studied the effects of oridonin on apoptosis and cytoskeletal protein F-actin in human pancreatic carcinoma SW1990 cells. Methods:SW1990 cells in culture medium were treated with different concentrations of oridonin. The inhibitory rate of the cells was measured by MTT assay. Morphology of cell apoptosis was observed by DAPI stain and cell apoptotic rate was detected by lfow cytometry (FCM). The morphological changes of F-actin were observed by laser confocal microscopy. Results:The growth of human pancreatic carcinoma SW1990 cells was signiifcantly inhibited by oridonin. Apoptosis morphological changes including condensation of chromatin and nuclear fragmentation were observed clearly by DAPI stain. The early apoptotic rate of SW1990 cells treated with 25, 50μmol/L oridonin was signiifcantly higher than that of the control group (3.78±0.46, 9.51±0.63 vs 0.73±0.06, P<0.05), and the late apoptotic rate and cell necrosis rate were also signiifcantly higher than that of the control group (14.40±1.78, 20.53±2.54 vs 4.16±0.31, P<0.05). F-actin was showed from polymerization to depolymerization after oridonin treatment. Conclusion:Oridonin can obviously inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of SW1990 cells. The mechanisms may involve the depolymerization of F-actin after treatment with oridonin.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of radioactive pancreatic duct stents implanted in the pancreatic ducts of pigs by endoscopy. Methods Different doses of 125I radioactive pancreatic duct stents were implanted in the pancreatic ducts of pigs by endoscopy. Blood tests were conducted before and after implantation. 14,30 and 60 days after implantation of the radioactive stents, the pigs were euthanized in batch. All animals underwent post modem examination to exclude intra-abdominal hemorrhage,pancreatic fistula or peritonitis. During autopsy,the liver,bile ducts,head of the pancreas,stomach and duodenum were examined for perforation,stricture or dilation and damage of the surrounding structures.Results Fourteen pigs were implanted with pancreatic duct stents by endoscopic procedures.There was no effusion,hemorrhage or necrosis in the adjacent duodenum,stomach,liver or right kidney.The noral morphological structures of the duct of Wirsung disappeared in all the treated pigs.Histopathological examination revealed that the stents were surrounded by necrotic tissue and outside fibrous tissue. During the follow-up period, the width of outside fibrous tissue gradually increased. There were no serious abnormalities noted in the blood tests after implantation. Conclusion It is indicated that the radioactive stents are safe in all the difierent dose groups. For future clinical application, it is feasible to design a special radioactive stent for each patient according to the size,shape and position of the pancreatic tumor.