熊果酸诱导HL-60细胞凋亡机制的探讨

目的：本实验拟用熊果酸干预处理人急性早幼粒白血病HL-60细胞,体外培养实验,证实其对HL-60细胞的增殖抑制和促进诱导凋亡作用,并通过免疫细胞化学方法检测bcl-2,survivin在熊果酸与该细胞株作用后表达,探讨熊果酸诱导HL-60细胞调亡可能的分子机制。方法：荧光显微镜观察细胞形态;流式细胞仪检测细胞周期相分布及细胞凋亡率：琼脂糖凝胶电泳观察细胞DNA;免疫细胞化学方法检测Bcl-2、Survivin蛋白。结果：荧光显微镜下观察,80gmol／LUA作用24h的HL一60细胞可看到典型的细胞凋亡形态学变化;40umol／L、80umol／LuA可使G0／G1期细胞增多,出现G0／G1期阻滞,S期和G2／M期细胞数减少,凋亡细胞峰（sub-G1）及凋亡率逐渐增高,Bcl-2、Survivin蛋白表达降低,当UA浓度为40gmol／L时,P〈0．01,有显著性差异。结论：UA呈浓度和时间依赖性抑制HL．60细胞增殖,诱导其凋亡机制可能与下调Bcl-2、Survivin蛋白表达有关。     

Growth inhibitory effect of ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of Cynara cardunculus L. in leukemia cells involves cell cycle arrest, cytochrome c release and activation of caspases

An extract of artichoke Cynara cardunculus L. (CCE) has been shown to exhibit antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties. In this study, the ability of CCE to inhibit the growth of L1210 and HL-60 leukemia cells was studied. Treatment of leukemia cells with a variety of concentrations of CCE (500-2500 microg/microL) for 24 h resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of leukemia cell growth. The cell growth inhibition was accompanied by G(0)/G(1) cell cycle arrest and by a loss of cells in S phase. Futhermore, apoptosis detected as a sub-G(0) cell population and apoptotic DNA fragmentation was observed. More detailed analyses of apoptosis induced by CCE in HL-60 cells revealed that apoptosis progressed through the caspase-9/-3 pathway, as release of cytochrome c, caspase-9/-3 activations and specific proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Taken together, the results suggest that CCE exerts an antiproliferative activity on leukemia cells and induces apoptosis of these cells through a mitochondrial/caspase dependent pathway.     

Induction of apoptosis by 3-amino-6-(3-aminopropyl)-5,6-dihydro-5,11-dioxo-11H-indeno[1,2-c]isoquinoline via modulation of MAPKs (p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase) and c-Myc in HL-60 human leukemia cells

Recently, we reported that 3-amino-6-(3-aminopropyl)-5,6-dihydro-5,11-dioxo-11H-indeno[1,2-c]isoquinoline (AM6-36), sharing structural similarity with naturally occurring isoquinolines, induced activities mediated by retinoid X receptor (RXR) response element accompanied by antiproliferative effects on breast cancer cells. To further characterize the biologic potential of AM6-36, we currently report studies conducted with HL-60 human leukemia cells. AM6-36 significantly inhibited cellular proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner with an IC(50) value of 86 nM. When evaluated at low test concentrations (≤0.25 μM), AM6-36 induced arrest in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. At higher concentrations (1 and 2 μM), the response shifted to apoptosis, which was consistent with the effect of AM6-36 on other apoptotic signatures including an increase of apoptotic annexin V(+) 7-AAD(-) cells, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, induction of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, and activation of several caspases. These apoptotic effects are potentially due to up-regulation of p38 MAPK and JNK phosphorylation and down-regulation of c-Myc oncogene expression. Taken together, AM6-36 might serve as an effective anticancer agent by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through the activation of MAPKs and inhibition of c-Myc.     

Antiproliferative and antimitotic effect, S phase accumulation and induction of apoptosis and necrosis after treatment of extract from Rhodiola rosea rhizomes on HL-60 cells

Rhodiola rosea is a medicinal plant having stimulating and adaptogenic properties, and some reports also indicate its anticancer and antimutagenic effect. However, the mechanism of its anticancer effect is unknown as there have been no cytological studies regarding cytostatics, cell cycle, induction of apoptosis or the mitotic activity of healthy and cancerous cells. In the present paper, those parameters were investigated using HL-60 cells, with flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. It has been found that the extract of Rhodiola rosea rhizomes inhibits division of HL-60 cells, which is preceded by an accumulation of cells at the prophase stage. This leads to induction of apoptosis and necrosis in HL-60 cells, and to marked reduction of their survival. The cells enter apoptosis from phase G2/M of the cell cycle. After treatment with the extract, no chromosome aberrations or micronuclei were observed, which indicates the mild action of the extract. The cytostatic and antiproliferative effect of the Rhodiola rosea rhizome extract, and its mild action, raises hope for its use in anticancer therapy by enhancing the effectiveness of cytostatics.     

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯对结肠癌细胞株抑制作用的体外研究

目的探讨绿茶提取物表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)对结肠癌细胞株(LoVo细胞、SW480细胞、HT29细胞、HCT-8细胞)增殖的抑制作用及对细胞凋亡和细胞周期的影响,研究其对结肠癌的抑癌机制。方法体外培养结肠癌细胞株,采用不同浓度的EGCG(10,20,35μg/ml)对其进行干预,MTT法检测EGCG对结肠癌细胞株增殖的抑制作用;用流式细胞仪检测EGCG对结肠癌细胞株凋亡和细胞周期的影响。结果 MTT法检测EGCG对结肠癌细胞株的抑制作用均具有浓度依赖性,且HT29细胞株尚具有时间依赖性。流式细胞仪检测EGCG能增强结肠癌细胞株的凋亡率,且剂量与凋亡率呈正相关。EGCG能将SW480细胞和LoVo细胞细胞周期阻滞在G0/G1期,阻碍其向S期转换,将HCT-8细胞阻滞在G2/M期,阻碍其向M期转换,将HT29细胞阻滞在S期,阻碍其向G2期转换,抑制结肠癌细胞株的增殖。结论EGCG对体外培养的结肠癌细胞株的增殖有明显抑制作用,其作用机制与增强细胞凋亡和影响细胞周期有关,具体作用机制有待进一步研究。     

Ganoderma lucidum extract induces G1 cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells

Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) Karst is a traditional Chinese herb that has been widely used for centuries to treat various diseases including cancer. Herein, an ethanol-soluble and acidic component (ESAC), which mainly contains triterpenes, was prepared from G. lucidum and its anti-tumor effects in vitro were tested on human breast cancer cells. Our results showed that ESAC reduced the cell viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a concentration-dependent manner with IC(50) of about 100 μg/mL and 60 μg/mL, respectively. DNA damage was detected by Comet assay and the increased expression of γ-H2AX after ESAC treatment was determined in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, ESAC effectively mediated G1 cell cycle arrest in both concentration- and time-dependent manners and induced apoptosis as determined by Hoechst staining, DNA fragment assay and Western blot analysis in MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, ESAC exerts anti-proliferation effects by inducing DNA damage, G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.     

紫草素对白血病细胞HL-60增殖及凋亡作用的影响

目的研究紫草素诱导人早幼粒白血病HL-60细胞凋亡的作用机制。方法 MTT比色法检测紫草素对HL-60细胞增殖的影响;Annexin V/PI分析凋亡率;半定量逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测bcl-2基因水平,分析白血病HL-60细胞凋亡作用与bcl-2表达水平关系。结果紫草素在1～8μg/mL浓度范围内能抑制HL-60细胞的增殖,具有时间和浓度的依赖性。2μg/mL紫草素能够诱导HL-60细胞凋亡,凋亡呈时间依赖性。在2μg/mL紫草素作用下,HL-60细胞bcl-2表达明显下调。结论紫草素能够诱导HL-60细胞凋亡,其作用机制与下调bcl-2表达有关。     

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯增强阿糖胞苷对HL-60细胞的抗肿瘤活性

 目的：研究表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯（EGCG）增强阿糖胞苷（AraC）对人白血病HL-60细胞的抗肿瘤活性。方法：采用生长曲线法、MTT法测定AraC合并应用EGCG前后对HL-60细胞的增殖抑制作用；以对消实验研究EGCG能否逆转脱氧胞苷（dCdR）的补救作用；以流式细胞光度仪分析联合用药前后对细胞周期和细胞凋亡的影响。结果：合并EGCG能增强AraC对HL-60细胞的增殖抑制作用，倍增时间从48 h延长到70 h，生长饱和密度从5.78减少到对5.54；MTT法表明合并EGCG后，AraC对HL-60细胞的IC₅₀从(0.08±0.07) μg·ml^-1减少到0.024±0.026 μg·ml^-1(P＜0.05)；对消实验表明单用AraC的IC₅₀为6.25 ng·ml^-1,加上dCdR后IC50为5.24 μg·ml^-1,而在给予EGCG后IC₅₀减少到1.17 μg·ml^-1。细胞周期研究结果表明AraC可使HL-60细胞阻滞于G₁期，S期细胞减少，低浓度的EGCG对细胞周期几无影响，但增强了AraC的细胞周期阻滞作用及细胞凋亡。结论：AraC合并应用EGCG可增强对人白血病HL-60细胞的抗肿瘤活性。     

昆明山海棠根部水提液诱导HL-60细胞凋亡及对c-Myc基因表达的调控

目的 研究昆明山海棠Tripterygium hypoglaucum(Celastraceae)(THH)根部水提液对早幼粒白血病HL-60细胞凋亡的诱导作用及机制。方法 通过特征性的形态学观察，Annexin—V标记，以及流式细胞仪检测中次G1峰的形成确定THH的诱导细胞凋亡作用；应用Western Blotting研究THH对c—Myc蛋白表达的影响。结果 THH根部水提液可诱导早幼粒白血病HL-60细胞凋亡。在浓度高于18μg／mL时，THH对HL-60细胞的诱导凋亡作用呈现浓度与时间的相关性。在THH处理2～4h后，癌基因蛋白c—Myc表达降低99％以上。结论 THH抑制了c—Myc蛋白的翻译或后翻译过程，从而降低了c—Myc在细胞周期运转中的作用，导致大量细胞凋亡．     

高三尖杉酯碱对HL-60细胞和QGY7703细胞的作用研究

采用MTT法和流氏细胞仪技术,研究了高三尖杉酯碱对HL-60细胞和QGY7703细胞的存活率和细胞周期分布影响.结果表明,高三尖杉酯碱对HL-60细胞的IC50是1.28 umol.L-1,对QGY7703细胞的IC50是0.55 umol.L-1.高三尖杉酯碱处理HL-60细胞24h后,G0-G1期细胞分布有所增加,G2-M期和S期细胞分布有所降低;高三尖杉酯碱处理QGY7703细胞24h后,G2-M期分布略有降低,G0-G1期细胞分布略有增加;高三尖杉酯碱处理HL-60细胞24h后,G0-G1期峰前有亚二倍体峰出现,说明高三尖杉酯碱在所用剂量下能够诱导HL-60细胞发生凋亡.     

斑蝥素对HL—60细胞和QGY7703细胞的作用研究

采用MTT法和流氏细胞仪技术,研究了斑蝥素对HL－60细胞和QGY7703细胞的存活率和细胞周期分布影响。结果表明,斑蝥素对HL－60细胞的IC50是15．34μmol/L,对QGY7703细胞的IC50是18．54μmol/L。按蝥素处理HL－60细胞和QGY7703细胞24h后,G2－M期细胞分布都有所增加,G0－G1期细胞分布都有所降低;斑蝥素处理HL－60细胞24h后,G0－G1期峰前有亚二倍体峰出现,说明斑蝥素在所用剂量下降够诱导HL－60细胞发生凋亡。     

南瓜蛋白对胰腺癌PANC-1细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的观察南瓜蛋白对胰腺癌PANC-1细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。方法采用MTT法观察南瓜蛋白对PANC-1细胞生长抑制情况;非肥胖型糖尿病/重症联合免疫缺陷性小鼠(NOD/SCID)小鼠体内观察南瓜蛋白对胰腺原位移植瘤的抑瘤率;电镜观察南瓜蛋白作用后PANC-1细胞超微结构的改变;流式细胞仪定量检测其细胞周期和凋亡发生率的影响;ELISA法定量检测南瓜蛋白作用后PANC-1细胞Caspase-3活性变化。结果 0.125、0.25、0.5mg/kg的南瓜蛋白对小鼠移植瘤抑瘤率(%)分别为45.2、50.0、59.7(P<0.05)。南瓜蛋白10μg/mL作用PANC-1细胞24h,部分细胞开始凋亡,表现为核内染色质浓集,出现核碎裂,作用72h,凋亡细胞增多,表现为染色质聚集,部分核膜消失,凋亡小体出现;南瓜蛋白(0、2.5、10、40μg/mL)作用PANC-1细胞72h,流式细胞周期分析显示G0/G1期的比例(%)分别为46.56±5.08、53.33±5.05、67.50±6.50和77.00±6.73(P<0.05),annexin V/PI分析显示PANC-1细胞凋亡率(%)分别为2.50±0.13、8.30±1.23、23.40±2.45和48.50±3.65(P<0.05);Caspase-3活性分别为0.009±0.002、0.011±0.003、0.035±0.009和0.065±0.009酶活力单位(P<0.05),提示南瓜蛋白以浓度依赖性诱导PANC-1细胞凋亡;40μg/mL南瓜蛋白作用PANC-1细胞24、48、72h,G0/G1期的比例(%)分别为56.60±6.65、67.83±6.76和77.00±6.73(P<0.05),annexin V/PI分析显示PANC-1细胞凋亡率(%)分别为16.51±2.97、38.51±2.38和48.50±3.65(P<0.05),提示南瓜蛋白以时间依赖性诱导PANC-1细胞凋亡。结论南瓜蛋白对PANC-1细胞具有明显的抑制作用,诱导G0/G1周期阻滞和细胞凋亡可能是其主要机制。     

Anti-leukemic activity of Wattakaka volubilis leaf extract against human myeloid leukemia cell lines

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Wattakaka volubilis has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine in India for treatment of several ailments such as bronchial asthma, inflammations, tumors, piles, leucoderma, application to boils, rat bite etc.

Aim of the study

The present study was designed to investigate anti-leukemic activity of the crude aqueous methanolic extract and to identify active compounds from the leaves of Wattakaka volubilis.

Materials and methods

The leaves of Wattakaka volubilis were extracted with aqueous methanol. Liquid–liquid fractionation of the crude methanolic extract with different organic solvents was done and the fractions were screened for in vitro anti-leukemic activity using different leukemic cell lines. The active fractions were then subjected to chromatographic separation for isolation of bioactive compounds. Structure of isolated compound was elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The in vitro anti-leukemic activities of different extracts of the leaves and isolated compound WVP were studied in U-937, HL-60 and K-562 cell-lines by using cell count, MTT [(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide] and DNA laddering assays, flow-cytometric and confocal microscopic techniques.

Results

Kaempferol-3-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-O]-β-d-glucopyranoside (WVP) was isolated from crude leaves extract of Wattakaka volubilis. Both the n-butanolic extract (WVB) of Wattakaka volubilis and its isolate WVP were found to be responsible for in vitro anti-leukemic activity. The IC₅₀ values of WVB were found be 120, 100 and 50 (μg/ml) in U937, K562, and HL-60 cell lines, respectively. Whereas, the pure isolate WVP exhibited anti-leukemic activity with IC₅₀ values of 13.5, 10.8, and 13.2 (μg/ml) in U937, K562, and HL-60 cell lines, respectively. The flow-cytometric analysis confirms that the cell cycle arrest occurs at G1 phase in case of U937 and K562 cell lines and G2/M phase in case of HL60 cell lines. Similarly both confocal microsocopic analysis and DNA laddering assay confirm the apoptosis and cell cycle arrests of leukemic cells.

Conclusion

The overall results provide evidence for the ethnopharmacological relevance for use of the plant Wattakaka volubilis in developing novel agents for the treatment of leukemia.     

告达庭诱导人肝癌细胞SMMC7721凋亡的作用

目的：观察Caudatin体外对人肝癌细胞SMMC7721的作用。方法：采用MTT法测定不同浓度的Caudatin作用于SMMC7721细胞24，48和72h对其生长的抑制作用。用流式细胞仪以PI单染检测细胞周期、以Annexin V／PI双染检测细胞凋亡，比色法测定Caspase-3酶活力。结果：Caudatin体外能抑制人肝癌细胞SMMC7721的增殖并呈明显的时间和剂量依赖性。Caudatin体外能诱导SMMC7721细胞凋亡，并使细胞周期阻滞于G0／G1期。Caspase-3的酶活力随着Caudatin体外作用时间的延长先升高并于8h达到最大，再随时间的变化而降低。结论：Caudatin体外能显著抑制人肝癌细胞SMMC7721的生长，其抗肿瘤作用可能与其抑制肿瘤细胞增殖、阻滞细胞周期于G0／G1期，并通过激活Caspase-3诱导肿癌细胞凋亡有关。     

养阴清肺方对钴60照射后肺成纤维细胞周期和凋亡的影响

目的：探讨养阴清肺方对钴60照射后肺成纤维细胞的生长周期及凋亡的影响。方法：制备实验用含药血清：空白组、中药组、激素组、中药加激素组;采用钴60射线照射肺成纤维细胞后,用不同含药血清培养细胞,分别于24、48、72 h后用流式细胞技术检测各组的细胞周期及细胞凋亡。结果：24 h,各药物组的细胞凋亡与空白组均有差异（P〈0.05）,中药组的作用最突出。各药物组的细胞周期主要阻滞在G2/M期;空白组与各药物组的S期有显著差异（P〈0.05）。48 h,各药物组细胞凋亡与空白组均有差异（P〈0.05）,而各药物组之间没有差异（P〉0.05）。72 h,各药物组细胞凋亡与空白组均有差异（P〈0.05）;各药物组之间亦有差异（P〈0.05）。48、72h各组出现了以G0/G1期比例增高为主的G0/G1期和G2/M期同时阻滞的现象。结论：养阴清肺方能够影响细胞生长周期,减少细胞合成期,诱导G2/M期阻滞,促进肺成纤维细胞的凋亡。     

木犀草素抑制人胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖作用的研究

目的研究木犀草素(Luteolin,Lu)对人胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖的体外抑制作用及其机制。方法 DPPH法测定Lu抗氧化活性;MTT法测定Lu对BGC-823细胞增殖的影响;流式细胞术检测细胞周期分布影响及诱导凋亡的作用;倒置显微镜下观察细胞形态学变化。结果 Lu清除自由基的能力与其浓度呈正相关(r2=0.979);5,10,20,40μmol/L的Lu作用48 h后对BGC-823细胞增殖抑制率分别为5.08%,7.09%,25.27%和53.77%,半数抑制浓度(IC50)为(37.88±5.81)μmol/L;Lu以浓度依赖性阻滞细胞周期在G2/M期,且S期细胞比例呈下降趋势。40μmol/L的Lu作用72 h后,BGC-823细胞凋亡率显著增高(P<0.01);镜下观察发现经Lu处理后细胞固缩并伴随细胞膜破裂的现象。结论 Lu在体外对人胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖有明显的抑制作用,且呈剂量依赖性;抗氧化、改变细胞周期及诱导细胞凋亡是其抗肿瘤作用的机制。     

蜂毒素对人胃癌细胞株BGC-823凋亡及其细胞周期的影响

目的：观察蜂毒素体外对人胃癌细胞株BGC-823增殖、凋亡及细胞周期的影响。方法：采用MTT法观察不同浓度的蜂毒素（32,16,8,4,2μg/mL）体外对人胃癌细胞株BGC-823增殖的影响,并用流式细胞仪检测其诱导的细胞凋亡和周期阻滞效应。结果：①与对照组比较,蜂毒素有抑制人胃癌细胞株BGC-823增殖的作用（P〈0.01）,随着药物浓度的增大,其对细胞的抑制率也明显增大,呈现剂量依赖性。②蜂毒素浓度从4μg/mL开始,即可诱导细胞产生凋亡,随着剂量的增加诱导凋亡的效果更加明显。③在细胞周期方面,与阴性对照比较,蜂毒素作用24小时后S期细胞比例上升,而G0/G1期比例明显下降,蜂毒素浓度达到16μg/mL时G0/G1期前出现明显的亚二倍体区。结论：蜂毒素对人胃癌细胞株BGC-823的增殖具有抑制作用,且能够引起该细胞的凋亡及改变其细胞周期。     

苦参碱对人食管癌细胞株Eca-109增殖和凋亡的影响

目的探讨中药提取物苦参碱单体(Matrine)对人食管癌细胞株Eca-109的诱导凋亡和抑制增殖作用。方法体外培养人食管癌细胞株(Eca-109),分别给以不同浓度的苦参碱对体外培养的Eca-109细胞株进行干预。以MTT比色法、Hoechst33342染色法以及流式细胞术测定苦参碱对Eca-109细胞株的诱导凋亡及抑制增殖的作用。结果 MTT实验显示苦参碱可以明显抑制Eca-109细胞株的增殖,流式细胞术检测细胞周期显示G2期细胞明显增多,S期细胞显著减少。结论苦参碱能明显抑制Eca-109细胞株的增殖,促进其凋亡,其作用机制可能与细胞周期阻滞于G2期有关。     

Mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of Zizyphus jujuba in HepG2 cells

The Zizyphus jujuba fruit has been used as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb and considered to affect various physiological functions in the body for thousands of years. However, its anti-cancer activity and mechanism of action remain to be elucidated. We investigated the anti-cancer activity of Zizyphus jujuba Mill and its underlining mechanisms of action in human hepatoma cells (HepG2) and found that the extract of Z. jujuba decreased the viability of the cells. Further extraction of the initial Z. jujuba extract with organic solvents revealed that the chloroform fraction (CHCl(3)-F) was the most effective. Interestingly, the CHCl(3)-F induced not only apoptosis but also G1 arrest at a low concentration (100 mug/ml) and G2/M arrest at a higher concentration (200 mug/ml) by cell cycle assay. Apoptosis, an increase in intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) level, a decline of mitochondrial membrane potential at low Z. jujuba concentrations, and a ROS-independent mitochondrial dysfunction pathway at high concentrations were all observed. CHCl(3)-F-induced G1 arrest in HepG2 cells was associated with an increase in hypohosphorylation of Rb and p27(Kip1), and a decrease of phosphorylated Rb. However, CHCl(3)-F-induced G2/M arrest in HepG2 cells correlated with a decrease of the p27(Kip1) levels and generation of the phosphorylation of p27(Kip1), however the hypohosphorylation of Rb protein remained. Collectively, our findings suggest that the CHCl(3)-F extract of Z. jujuba extract induced a concentration dependent effect on apoptosis and a differential cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells.     

Caudatin-2,6-dideoxy-3-O-methy-β-D-cymaropyranoside 1 induced apoptosis through caspase 3-dependent pathway in human hepatoma cell line SMMC7721

Caudatin-2,6-dideoxy-3-O-methy-β-D-cymaropyranoside (CDMC), the C-21 steroidal glycoside recently extracted from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant, the root of Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight (Asclepiadaceae), has been shown to possess potent antitumor properties. However, the bioactivities of CDMC are still largely unknown, especially the antitumor effect and its mechanism. This study investigated the CDMC antitumor effects on human hepatoma cell line SMMC7721 cells by analysis of cell viability, cell cycle phases and apoptosis. The results showed that CDMC inhibited the growth of SMMC7721 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner and resulted in cell cycle arrest in G(0)/G(1) phase. Furthermore, CDMC induced SMMC7721 cell apoptosis rather than necrosis through caspase 3 activation, and a caspase 3 inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-CHO, could attenuate the apoptosis induced by CDMC. The results suggested that the anticancer activity of CDMC could be attributed partially to its inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis associated with caspase 3 activation.