Study on inhibition effect of alkaloid monomers from Sophora alopecuroides on in vitro cultured lung cancer cells

Abstract

Objective To investigate in vitro anti-tumor activity and the related mechanism of four alkaloid monomers from Sophora alopecuroides,and to evaluate their toxicity on normal cells,thereby to screen the drugs with high efficiency and low toxicity anti-tumor effects.Methods Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was employed to determine the effects of four alkaloid monomers on the proliferation activity of human lung cancer cells and hamster lung cells.Morphology of apoptotic lung cancer cell nucleus was observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy with Hochest33342 staining.Cell apoptosis and necrosis were measured by Annexin Ⅴ-FITC/PI double staining.Results The four alkaloid monomers showed different degree of proliferation inhibition on lung cancer cells with dose dependent manner.Oxysophoridine had the strongest inhibition effect on lung cancer cells and the minimun toxicity on normal lung cells.Hochest33342 staining and flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that oxysophoridine could induce the apoptosis and necrosis of A549 cells.Conclusions All four alkaloid monomers have certain anti-tumor effect on lung cancer cells.Oxysophoridine is the most active one with high efficiency and low toxicity characteristics,which is suitable for use as anti-tumor drug candidate for further development. Key words: Alkaloid monoers; Lung cancer cells; Anti-tumor activity; Action mechanism