AIM: To investigate the cellular biological effects of matrine on K562 and K562/Vin cells and discuss the anticancer mechanism
of matrine. METHODS: MTT assay was used to detect the IC_ 50 of matrine on these two cell lines and the reversal effect of matrine on K562/Vin cell's resistance to vincristine. In addition, the growth curve of cells was drawed. The p-glycoprotein (P-gp)
expression was determined by immunohistochemistry analysis. The morphological changes of cells under light microscopy and the structural changes under transmission electron microscope were observed. RT-PCR assay was used to detect the hTERT-mRNA expression. RESULTS: The IC_ 50 of matrine was 3.4, 4.6 mmol·L -1 for K562 and K562/Vin cells, respectively. Matrine (4.0 mmol·L -1)
inhibited the growth of K562, K562/Vin cells, 2.0 mmol·L -1 matrine inhibited expression of P-gp and with 492.4 reversal index. Matrine killed K562 cells by inducing the apoptosis and the same effect on K562/Vin cells was also observed. The hTERT-mRNA expression of K562 cells were also inhibited by matrine. CONCLUSIONS: Matrine enhanced the cytotoxicity of vincristine in K562/Vin cells, induced the apoptosis of K562 and K562/Vin cells, also inhibited the hTERT-mRNA expression in K562 cells. It shows that matrine would be an effective anticancer medicine.