Cryptotanshinone Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Migration and Invasion in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells In Vitro

Cryptotanshinone (CPT), an active quinoid diterpene isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, was previously reported to have potential anticancer effects. However, the mechanisms of CPT on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effects of CPT on HCC cells. Thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay showed dose-dependent and time--dependent cytotoxicity of CPT on human HCC cells, especially in HCCLM3 and Huh-7 cells. Hoechst 33258 stain, flow cytometry assay, and Western blot assay all indicated that CPT could distinctly induce the apoptosis of human HCC cells and break intracellular homeostasis by triggering the imbalance of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Delta psi m) and reactive oxygen species. In addition, CPT could significantly inhibit HCCLM3 and Huh-7 cells' migration and invasion via the signal transducers and activators of transcription 3/matrix metalloproteinases mediated signaling pathway. Our findings demonstrated that the antitumor effects of CPT on human HCC cells were by suppressing cell proliferation, inducing cell apoptosis and impairing cell migration and invasion.