Dicranostigma leptopodum (maxim) fedde induced apoptosis in SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cells and inhibited tumor growth in mice

Dicranostigma Leptopodum (Maxim) Fedde (DLF), which had been previously documented to suppress oxidative hemolysis of erythrocytes and enhance immune functions of murine peritoneal macrophages, was investigated for its effect on anti-tumor activity. Of alkaloids extracted from DLF, five have been identified with employment of chromatographic analysis. An antiproliferative role of these alkaloids was determined on SMMC-7721 Human Hepatoma Cells in an apoptosis-inducing manner, through MTT assaying, Trypan blue exclusion assaying and cytometric analysis of cell cycle distribution. To further examine their inhibitory effects on tumor progression, murine H22 cells were inoculated into Kunming mice to determine the role of these alkaloids of DLF in inhibiting tumor growth in the tumor-implanted mice. It was found that these alkaloids of DLF enhanced the tumor shrinkage effectively wherein its tumor inhibitory rate and immunohistochemistry staining of the tumor were determined and profiled, respectively.