Down-modulation of heat shock protein 70 and up-modulation of Caspase-3 during schisandrin B-induced apoptosis in human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells.

Aim: To investigate the effect of schisandrin B (Sch B) on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells in vitro and regulation of Hsp70 and Caspases-3, 7, 9 expression by Sch B.

Methods: Human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 was cultured and treated with Sch B at various concentrations. Growth suppression was detected with MTT colorimetric assay.