Hyperin Extracted from Manchurian Rhododendron Leaf Induces Apoptosis in Human Endometrial Cancer Cells Through a Mitochondrial Pathway

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> A number of effective prevention measures have been introduced in attempts to substantiallyreduce both the incidence and mortality due to many kinds of cancer. The search for new anti-cancer compoundsin foods or in plant medicines is one realistic and promising approach to prevention. Chinese medicines provide arich pool of novel and efficacious agents for cancer prevention and treatment. Previously it was demonstratratedthat hyperin extracted from the Manchurian rhododendron leaf reduces the proliferation of many cancer cells.The present study was carried out to evaluate its effects on human endometrial cancer cell viability and apoptosisand to investigate its mechanisms of action in RL952 cells. <br/><b>Methods</b>: Cell viability was measured using the MTTassay. Intracellular calcium ions were detected using laser-scanning confocal microscopy. The effects of hyperinon apoptosis related proteins in RL952 cells were examined using Western blot analysis. <br/><b>Results</b>: The growth ofRL952 cells was inhibited by treatment with hyperin. OD values of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased andexpression of bcl-2 was increased and bax was decreased in protein levels in RL952 cells after 24 h of hyperintreatment, Moreover, intracellular calcium accumulation occurred in hyperin-treated cells. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Theseresults suggest that hyperin may play an important role in tumor growth suppression by inducing apoptosis inhuman endometrial cells via a Ca2+-related mitochondrion apoptotic pathway in RL952 cells.