Alkaloid from Angelicae dahuricae inhibits HeLa cell growth by inducing apoptosis and increasing caspase-3 activity

Abstract

Angelicae dahuricae has been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine not only domestically for thousands of years but also in foreign countries such as Korea, Japan, and Russia. In this study, the effect of alkaloid from Angelicae dahuricae (AAD) on inhibiting HeLa cell growth has been investigated by many approaches, including MTT, microstructure of apoptotic cells through DAPI staining and electron microscope, caspase-3 activity by chromotography, and cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry. The results showed that AAD could induce HeLa cell apoptosis, inhibit cell growth, and increase caspase-3 activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The mechanism of AAD-inducing apoptosis might be associated with multiple antiproliferative action towards the cells by inhibiting, preventing cell progression, and inducing a caspase-3 mediated apoptosis.