Smilax china L. rhizome extract inhibits nuclear factor-κB and induces apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells.
OBJECTIVE
To study the antitumor effects and associated mechanisms of extract of the Smilax china L. rhizome (SCR) on ovarian cancer cells.


METHODS
Ovarian cancer cells A2780 were treated with different concentrations of SCR extract (SCRE), and compared with controls. Effects on cell growth were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay; proliferation effects by EdU incorporation assay; cell cycle by propidium iodide staining; apoptosis by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide; cellular distribution of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by immunofluorescence; protein levels of NF-κB, caspase-3, poly-adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cellular inhibitor of apoptosis (cIAP)-1, anti-X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-XL), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and AKT by Western blotting; and effects of SCRE combined with cisplatin or adriamycin on A2780 cells by CCK-8 assay.


RESULTS
SCRE suppressed A2780 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05,P<0.01), arrested cells in G2/M phase and induced apoptosis by activating caspase-3, PARP and Bax. SCRE treatment also correlated with inhibition of NF-κB and downregulation of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, cIAP-1, XIAP and AKT. SCRE can promote chemosensitivity to cisplatin and adriamycin in A2780 cells (P<0.01).


CONCLUSION
SCR effectively inhibits NF-κB, induces apoptosis and reduces chemoresistance to cisplatin and adriamycin in ovarian cancer cells, which might be its molecular basis for treating ovarian cancer.
['Hu|Li-ling|LL|', 'Chen|Dong-sheng|DS|', 'Wang|Yan-yan|YY|', 'Qin|You|Y|', 'Huang|Pu|P|', 'Yu|Li-xiu|LX|', 'Liao|Jing|J|', 'Hua|Xiao-li|XL|']
D017209:Apoptosis D045744:Cell Line, Tumor D002470:Cell Survival D005260:Female D006801:Humans D016328:NF-kappa B D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms D010936:Plant Extracts D032281:Smilax
Smilax china L. rhizome nuclear factor-κB apoptosis A2780 cells chemosensitivity G2/M arrest