1. Combined Effect of Sodium Selenite and Ginsenoside Rh2 on HCT116 Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells.
- Author
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Changlai Zhu, Fang Liu, Wenbo Qian, Tianyi Zhang, and Feng Li
- Subjects
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AUTOPHAGY , *REACTIVE oxygen species , *ANTINEOPLASTIC agents , *APOPTOSIS , *CELL culture , *CELL cycle , *CELL lines , *CHALONES , *COMBINATION drug therapy , *COLON tumors , *DOSE-effect relationship in pharmacology , *ELECTRON microscopy , *FLOW cytometry , *GLYCOSIDES , *RESEARCH funding , *SELENIUM compounds , *T-test (Statistics) , *CELL size , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *IN vitro studies ,RECTUM tumors - Abstract
Background: Sodium selenite and ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) are well known for their anticancer properties and have been exploited as a new therapeutic approach. In this study, we are interested to evaluate if sodium selenite and G-Rh2 combination results in a synergistic anticancer effect that could contribute to lower systemic toxicity. Methods: We observed the synergistic antitumor effect by combination of sodium selenite and G-Rh2 on HCT-116 human colorectal carcinoma cells in vitro. Cell growth, viability, cell cycle progression and cell apoptosis, Bax/Bcl2 ratio, caspase-3 expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and autophagy were evaluated. Results: The results showed that sodium selenite and G-Rh2 combination have a synergistic effect on cell growth inhibition (57%) compared with sodium selenite (25%) and G-Rh2 alone (28%) after 24h of treatment. This combination also induced G1 and S phase arrest simultaneously and increased apoptosis rate. The results also indicated that Bax/Bcl2 ratio and caspase-3 expression, known as proapoptotic factors, were increased in the presence of sodium selenite and G-Rh2 alone. However, combined drug treatment results in a more significant increase in Bax/Bcl2 ratio and caspase-3 expression (P < 0.05). In addition, this combination significantly induces a depletion of ROS production and autophagy, compared to control, sodium selenite and G-Rh2 alone (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Sodium selenite and ginsenoside Rh2 combination may be a more effective treatment for human colorectal carcinoma and is a promising chemotherapeutic approach for malignant tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016