[Effects of carotenoids extracts from Potamogeton crispus on apoptosis of human hepatoma cell line QGY-7703 in vitro].

Human hepatoma cell line QGY-7703 was treated with the medium containing 10, 20, 40 and 60 micromol/L carotenoids extracts from Potamogoton crispus L. (CEPC) for 48 h, 96 h and 144 h, respectively. The inhibition rates to hepatoma cells were determined by MTT assay. The results showed the average inhibition rates of the three treatments varied from 0.14%-23.07%, 39.59%-70.61% and 71.65%-87.01%, respectively. After hepatoma cells were treated with the medium containing 10, 20 and 40 micromol/L of CEPC for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively, many typical morphology features of apoptotic cells were observed by Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM), such as the distinct decrease in number and volume of cells, the shrinkage and deformation of cells, the shape of cell nucleuses appearing like crescent even piece, the decrease in area of yellow DNA in cell nuclei. The percentage of hepatoma cells in every phase of cell cycle was analyzed by Flow Cytometer (FCM) after being treated with 10 micromol/L and 20 micromol/L CEPC for 48 h. Compared with the control group, the cells in G0/G1 phase increased 23.8% (P<0.01) and 35.6% (P<0.01) respectively, in S phase decreased relevantly, while the cells in G2/M phase had no significant change. The Ca2+ concentration (fluorescence intensity) in cytoplasm of hepatoma cells was determined by LSCM after being treated with 20 micromol/L CEPC for 48 h. The Ca2+ concentration increased significantly (P<0.01) and was 1.5 times that of control group. These results demonstrated that the CEPC inhibited the proliferation of hepatoma cells QGY-7703 significantly in a dose and time-dependent manner in vitro. The hepatoma cells treated with CEPC were evidently arrested at G0/G1 phase in the cell cycle. The concentration of Ca2+ in test group cells cytoplasm increased significantly, it might be the important cause that CEPC induced the apoptosis of hepatoma cells QGY-7703. This paper provided scientific basis for further studying and developing the function and value of carotenoids in Potamogoton crispus L.