Eriodictyol Suppresses Survival of Cervical Cancer Cells Through Mediation of PTEN/Akt Signaling Pathway

Cervical cancer is one of the most malignant cancers of the female reproductive system with high morbidity and mortality. In the current study, we have examined the effect of eriodictyol on cell survival including cell growth, cell cycle and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells and also explored the underlying mechanism(s). To this end, CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and western blotting assays were performed in cervical cancer HeLa cells. Eriodictyol significantly inhibited cell survival including impeding the cell viability, arresting the cell cycle at the G1 phase and potentiating cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, ERI activated PTEN, P21, cleaved caspase-3/-9 expression and downregulated P-Akt and cyclin D1 expression in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, ERI can inhibit cervical cancer HeLa cells viability via impeding cell cycle and inducing apoptosis by regulating PTEN/Akt signaling pathway.