OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Abnormal Savda Munziq (ASMq) flavonoids on proliferation, apoptosis and apoptosis-related gene expression in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells in vitro and to probe the mechanism.

METHODThe effects of ASMq flavonoids on proliferation, apoptosis and apoptosis-related gene expression of HepG2 cells were investigated respectively by MTT assay, gel electrophoresis, flow cytometry and RT-PCR.

RESULTASMq flavonoids significantly inhibited growth of HepG2 cells in vitro, arrested HepG2 in the sub-G, phase, induced cell apoptosis and significantly down-regulated expression level of Bcl-2 mRNA, and up-regulated expression of p53, p21, Bax gene mRNA expressions.

CONCLUSIONASMq flavonoids has significantly regulative action on growth, apoptosis and apoptosis-related gene expression of cancer cells in vitro, which possibly are the important way to excert anticancer effect, and flavonoids are possibly a main active component of ASMq for exerting the anticancer effect.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics