Inhibitory Effects of the Tectorigenin from Pueraria Flos on the Proliferation of Human Hepatoma Cell Line SMMC-7721

[Objective] To research on the inhibitory effects of tectorigenin from Pueraria Flos on the proliferation of human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721. [Method] Total isoflavones in Pueraria Flos was obtained from the methanol extracts of wild Pueraria Flos by hydrochloric acid thermal hydrolysis. Total isoflavones were isolated by silica gel column so as to obtain tectorigenin. When the human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 was at logarithmic growth phase, different concentrations of tectorigenin were added for intervention. Changes of cell morphology were observed by inverted microscope. Inhibitory effects on hepatoma cell were analyzed by MTT; Annexin V-PI double staining was also adopted; effects of tectorigenin on cell early apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. [Result] Tectorigenin significantly reduced the number of adherent hepatoma cells, turned the cancel cells to small and round ones. The inhibitory effects of tectorigenin enhanced sharply as the concentration increased within 1.0-8.0 μg/mL, showing significant dose-effect relationship. Under the concentrations of 5.00, 10.00 and 20.00 μg/mL, tectorigenin could significantly enhance the early apoptosis rate of hepatoma cells (P<0.01). [Conclusion] Tectorigenin showed significant inhibitory effects on the proliferation of human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721. This mechanism might be related to the apoptosis promotion of cancel cell.