[Antitumor effect and apoptosis induction in human cancer cell lines by BRM-SJS].

Background & Objective: It had been observed that BRM-SJS had antitumor effect in our clinical practice. This study was designed to investigate the antitumor activity of BRM-SJS, and mechanism of its action.

Methods: In vitro antitumor experiments with MTT method, meanwhile cell morphology, flow cytometry, and agarose gel electrophoresis were performed for determining apoptosis in several tumor cell lines.

Results: BRM-SJS had antitumor effects on human Suzhou human glioma (SHG-44), breast carcinoma (MCF-7), and human pancreas carcinoma (PANC1) in vitro, the IC50 values of BRM-SJS were 0. 299 mg/ml, 1.853 mg/ml and 9.416 mg/ml respectively. At the 2. 5 mg of BRM-SJS on SHG-44 and MCF-7, marked morphological changes, including cell shrinkage and condensation of chromosomes, were observed with electric microscope. The increase of apoptosis in SHG-44 and MCF-7 cells treated with BRM-SJS extracts 0.625 -2.5 mg for 14 -48 h was observed by Annexin-V/PI flow cytometry analysis. Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA from SHG-44 and MCF-7 cells treated with BRM-SJS extracts 1.25 -5 mg for 24 h or 48 h showed marked DNA Ladder pattern.

Conclusion: Antitumor activity of BRM-SJS may be related with inducement of apoptosis of tumor cells.