Virosecurinine induces apoptosis by affecting Bcl-2 and Bax expression in human colon cancer SW480 cells.

Virosecurinine, the major alkaloid isolated from Securinega suffruticosa Pall Rehd was found to exhibit growth inhibition and cytotoxicity against huaman colon cancer SW480 cells via the microculture tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Due to its greater cytotoxic potency and selectivity towards SW480 cells, flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle distribution of control and treated SW480 cells whereas Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry analysis was carried out to confirm apoptosis induced by virosecurinine in SW480 cells. Apoptotic regulatory genes were determined by RT-PCR analysis.

L-securinine induced the human colon cancer SW480 cell autophagy and its molecular mechanism.

Aims: To investigate the anti-tumor effects of L-securinine inducing colon cancer SW480 cell autophagy and explore its potential molecular mechanism.

Main Methods: MTT method was used to detect the antitumor effect of SW480 cells cultured with L-securinine in vitro. Light and electron microscopy were used to observe SW480 cells treated with L-securinine morphological changes.