P3-040: Sinomenine inhibits proliferation and apoptosis induction in lung cancer cells

Abstract

Sinomenine, an alkaloid extract from the Chinese medicinal plant Sinomenium acutum, has a wide range of pharmacological actions. Here, we examined whether sinomenine possesses anti-lung cancer properties. The human A549 lung cancer cell line and the murine Lewis lung carcinoma cell line were used in this study. The cells were treated with sinomenine (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.625, 1.25 or 2.5 mM) for 24, 48 or 72 h. Cellular proliferation was evaluated with a CCK-8 assay. Cell cycle phase distribution and apoptosis were examined by flow cytometry. Sinomenine treatment inhibited cellular proliferation (P<0.01) in a time and dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis showed that the percentage of cells in G1 stage in the sinomenine-treated groups was significantly greater, while the percentage of cells in S stage was significantly less than in the control group. The apoptosis assay showed that the apoptotic cell rate in the sinomenine-treated groups was significantly elevated in a time and dose-dependent manner (P <0.05 vs. controls). Sinomenine can effectively inhibit proliferation of A549 and Lewis cancer cells. The cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by sinomenine treatment may underlie, at least in part, the purported anti-cancer effects of this extract. If so, sinomenine may be developed into an effective treatment against lung tumors.