[Kaempferol-induced apoptosis of human esophageal squamous carcinoma Eca-109 cells and the mechanism].

Objective: To evaluate the growth-inhibiting and pro-apoptotic effect of kaempferol in human esophageal squamous carcinoma Eca-109 cells and explore the mechanism.

Methods: The effect of kaempferol on Eca-109 cell proliferation in vitro was measured by MTT assay. TUNEL staining was used to detect the cell apoptosis following kaempferol treatment. The changes in Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expressions in response to kaempferol treatment were determined by RT-PCR, and the caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities were evaluated using colorimetric assay.

Results: Kaempferol significantly inhibited Eca-109 cell proliferation (P<0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner and induced obvious cell apoptosis. RT-PCR showed that after kaempferol treatment caused up-regulated Bax and down-regulated Bcl-2 mRNA expression. The colorimetric assay revealed significantly increased caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities in Eca-109 cells following kaempferol treatment (P<0.01).

Conclusion: Kaempferol can induce apoptosis of Eca-109 cells via a mitochondria-dependent pathway.