Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIM: Effect of baohuoside-Ⅰ from Cortex Periplocae on apoptosis of human esophageal carcinoma cell Eca-109 and its mechanism were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After treatment with baohuoside-Ⅰ at different concentrations (12.5, 25, 50 μg/ml)for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, the inhibitory effect on proliferation of Eca-109 cells was analyzed by MTT method.After treatment with baohuoside-Ⅰ under different concentrations(12.5、25、50 μg/ml) for 48 h, cell apoptotic ratio and expression of Eca-109 cells Survivin protein of were measured with flow cytometry (FCM); the ultrastructure was examined by transmission electron microscope; the expression of Survivin mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Baohuoside-Ⅰ significantly inhibited proliferation of Eca-109 cells, and in concentration- dependent manner(P all<0.05), the IC50 was 24.8 μg/ml. After treatment with different concentrations of Baohuoside-Ⅰfor 48 h, cell apoptosis of Eca-109 cells was induced significantly (the apoptotic ratio is 55.26％ treated with 50 μg/ml of baohuoside-Ⅰ) and showing characteristic ultrastructural changes of apoptosis. Expression levels of Survivin mRNA and protein were decreased significantly(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Baohuoside-Ⅰ of Cortex Periplocae could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of Eca-109 cell. This effect was associated with down-regulation of Survivin mRNA expression.

Key words: human esophageal carcinoma, baohuoside-, apoptosis, gene expression