Aim: To study the antitumor effect of baicalein on human leukemia K562 cell and its mechanism.
Methods: The IC50 value and cytotoxity of K562 cell were detected by MTT method. The apoptotic cell was analyzed by FCM using Annexin V FITC--PI staining method. Sub-G1 peak was also measured by FCM. Protein expressions of Bcl-2, Fas, Caspase 3 were evaluated with FCM.
Results: Baicalein was shown to significantly inhibit the proliferation of K562 cell in a dose-dependent manner and selectively induce apoptosis of human leukemia K562 cells. Flow cytometric analysis showed that baicalein arrested K562 cells in the S phase. In addition, protein expression of Fas, Caspase 3 of K562 cells increased after exposure to baicalein, but Bcl-2 was unchanged.
Conclusion: Baicalein can selectively induce apoptosis of human leukemia K562 cell dose and time dependently through up-regulation of caspase-3 and fas gene expression level.