Extract of Zuojin Pill (左金丸) induces apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells via mitochondria-dependent pathway

Objective: To observe the effects of water extract of Zuojin Pill (左金丸, ZJP) on inhibiting the growth of human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 and its potential mechanism. Methods: Effects of ZJP on SGC-7901 cells growth were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, cell apoptosis and cell cycle were determined by flow cytometry, and apoptosis induction was detected by means of DNA gel electrophoresis. The cellular mechanism of drug-induced cell death was unraveled by assaying oxidative injury level of SGC-7901 cell, mitochondrial membrane potentials, expression of apoptosis-related genes, such as B cell lymphoma/lewkmia-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9. Results: ZJP exerted evident inhibitory effect on SGC-7901 cells by activating production of reactive oxygen species and elevating Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in SGC-7901 cells, leading to attenuation of mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA fragmentation. Conclusions: ZJP inhibits the cancer cell growth via activating mitochondria-dependent apoptosis pathway. ZJP can potentially serve as an antitumor agent. Copyright © 2015 Chinese Association of the Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.