Apoptosis in human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 induced by water-soluble macromolecular components of Artemisia capillaris Thunberg

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of water-soluble macromolecular components of Artemisia capillaris Thunberg (ACT) on human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 (SMMC-7721). The morphological changes of SMMC-7721 were observed under a light microscope and an electron microscope. Inhibition of proliferation was measured with a colorimetric MTT assay. It was discovered that ACT extract-treated cells exhibit morphological changes typical of apoptosis, including condensed chromatin and a reduction in volume. ACT extract at 25-200 mu g/ml dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721. The 50% effective dose, evaluated on day 3 of exposure to the extract, was 64.52+/-3.53 mu g/ml. Upon gel electrophoresis, the fragmented DNA showed a characteristic ladder pattern. Cell cycle analyses revealed that ACT induced cell cycle arrest at the G(0)/G(1) phase.