Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine (Jan 2020)

Crebanine N-oxide, a natural aporphine alkaloid isolated from Stephania hainanensis, induces apoptosis and autophagy in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells

  • Zheng-Wen Wang,
  • Hao Liu,
  • Geng-Tai Ye,
  • Zhi-Yong Sheng,
  • Yan-Feng Hu,
  • Yin-Feng Tan,
  • Guo-Xin Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/2221-1691.281466
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 5
pp. 224 – 231

Abstract

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Objective: To investigate the cytotoxic effects and the potential mechanisms of crebanine N-oxide in SGC-7901 gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Methods: The cytotoxicity of crebanine N-oxide was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide assay and cellular morphology was observed under a microscope. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry using propidium iodide staining. The expression levels of apoptotic-related proteins, cleaved caspase-3, cytochrome C, p53 and Bax, and autophagy- related proteins p62, beclin1 and LC3 were detected by Western blotting assays. Results: Crebanine N-oxide treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells in a dose-dependent and time- dependent manner via induction of G2-phase cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy in SGC-7901 cells. Conclusions: Crebanine N-oxide could inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells by promoting apoptosis and autophagy and could be used as a potential agent for treating gastric cancer.

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