Synergistic Antitumor Effect of Amorphigenin Combined with Cisplatin in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549/DDP Cells

Background and objective Amorphigenin, a rotenoid compouns, from seeds of Amorpha fruticosa, has been shown to possess anti-proliferation activities in several cancer cells. To explore the antitumor effects of amorphigenin on cisplatin-resistant human lung adenocarcinoma A549/DDP cells and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods CCK-8 assay was used to measure the proliferation of A549/DDP cells; Colony formation assay was used to measure the colony formation of A549/DDP cells; Flow cytometry assay was used to detect the apoptosis rates; Western blot analysis was used to explore the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (caspase-3 protein, PARP protein) and lung resistance protein (LRP). Results Our results demonstrated that amorphigenin could inhibit the proliferation of A549/DDP cells with a inhibition concentration of 50% cell growth (IC50) at 48 h of (2.19±0.92) μmol/L. Amorphigenin could inhibit the colony formation ability and induce apoptosis of A549/DDP cells; Furthermore, amorphigenin combined with cisplatin showed synergistic proliferation-inhibitory effect and apoptosis-promoting effect in A549/DDP cells; reduced the expression of LRP of A549/DDP cells. Conclusion Amorphigenin remarkably inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis in A549/DDP cells. Combination of amorphigenin with cisplatin had the synergistic inhibitory effect on A549/DDP cells by downregulating the expression of LRP.