Antihepatocarcinoma Effect of Solanine and Its Mechanisms

ObjectiveTo explore the antitumor effect of solanine and its mechanisms.MethodsThe in vivo antitumor effect of solanine was observed using models developed through in vivo transplantation of tumor cells; In vitro lines of sensitive antitumor cells were selected from the digestive system using MTT assay; The effect of solanine on cell morphology was observed using transmission electronic microscopy; The morphology of apoptotic cells was observed using Annexin V/PI double staining and laser confocal scanning microscopy (LCSM); The rate of cell apoptosis was measured using Annexin V/PI double staining and flow cytometry; The concentration of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was determined using Fluo-3/AM staining and LCSM; The membrane potential of cellular mitochondria was determined using TMRE staining and LCSM; The protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was measured using immunological marking and LCSM; And the activity of caspase-3 was measured using the colorimetric method.ResultsSolanine could inhibit the growth of tumor weight in S180 tumor-bearing mice and prolong the survival time of H22 tumor-bearing mice. MTT assay revealed that HepG2 cells were quite sensitive to solanine because solanine could induce morphological changes in HepG2 cells, with the rate of early apoptosis being 4%, 8.5%, and 20.1%, for HepG2 cells treated for 24 h with solanine at concentration of 0.4, 2, and 10 μg/mL, respectively. Solanine could raise the [Ca2+]i and lower the membrane potential. It could reduce the protein expression of Bcl-2 while increase that of Bax, thus increasing the activity of caspase-3.ConclusionThe obvious antitumor activity of solanine in human hepatocarcinoma is demonstrated. This inhibitory effect is achieved through solanine decreasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, thus increasing [Ca2+]i, which could enhance the enzymatic activity of the caspase family, thus inducing the apoptosis of HepG2 cells.