PMID- 30657284
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20201223
LR  - 20201223
IS  - 1827-1898 (Electronic)
IS  - 0031-0808 (Linking)
VI  - 62
IP  - 1
DP  - 2020 Mar
TI  - Saffron inhibits the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma via inducing cell 
      apoptosis.
PG  - 7-12
LID - 10.23736/S0031-0808.18.03561-9 [doi]
AB  - BACKGROUND: Liver cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer-related 
      mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of saffron 
      on liver cancer cell line QGY-7703 and the underlying molecular mechanism. 
      METHODS: Cell growth was detected by MTT 
      (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay and cell 
      cycle was assessed by  fl ow cytometry. Besides, cell apoptosis was analyzed by 
      Annexin V/PI (Propidium Iodide) staining, and the senescent cells morphology 
      staining of beta-galactosidase was evaluated by microscopy. In addition, ELISA 
      (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) Kit was used to assess the activity of 
      telomerase. Moreover, reverse transcription-PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and 
      Western blot analysis was applied to detect mRNA and protein expression levels, 
      respectively. RESULTS: Saffron treatment in QGY-7703 cells could significantly 
      inhibit cell growth, arrest cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, and induce cell 
      apoptosis. Besides, the treatment of saffron could obviously decrease telomerase 
      activity and hTERT level in QGY-7703 cells. In addition, enhanced Bax/Bcl-2 ratio 
      and increased expression of P21 were found in saffron-treated cells. Moreover, we 
      found that the number of senescent cells increased dramatically and the 
      morphology of cells changed obviously after saffron treatment. CONCLUSIONS: 
      Saffron administration may provide some experimental evidence for the inhibitory 
      effect of saffron on the proliferation of QGY-7703 cells, suggesting that saffron 
      may have potential utility for the treatment of liver cancer.
FAU - Liu, Tao
AU  - Liu T
AD  - Department of Pharmacy of Traditional Medicine, People's Hospital of Rizhao, 
      Rizhao, China.
FAU - Tian, Li
AU  - Tian L
AD  - Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, People's Hospital of Rizhao, Rizhao, 
      China.
FAU - Fu, Xuefeng
AU  - Fu X
AD  - Department of Pharmacy, Wulian County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 
      Rizhao, China.
FAU - Wei, Lili
AU  - Wei L
AD  - Preventive Vaccination Clinics, the People's Hospital of Zhangqiu Area, Jinan, 
      China.
FAU - Li, Jing
AU  - Li J
AD  - Department of Surgery, the People's Hospital of Zhangqiu Area, Jinan, China.
FAU - Wang, Tingting
AU  - Wang T
AD  - Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, People's Hospital of Rizhao, Rizhao, 
      China - zextd427@163.com.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
DEP - 20190117
PL  - Italy
TA  - Panminerva Med
JT  - Panminerva medica
JID - 0421110
RN  - 0 (Plant Extracts)
SB  - IM
MH  - *Apoptosis
MH  - Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy/*pathology
MH  - Cell Cycle
MH  - Cell Line, Tumor
MH  - Cell Proliferation/*drug effects
MH  - Crocus/*chemistry
MH  - Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
MH  - Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
MH  - Humans
MH  - Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy/*pathology
MH  - Plant Extracts/*pharmacology
EDAT- 2019/01/19 06:00
MHDA- 2020/12/29 06:00
CRDT- 2019/01/19 06:00
PHST- 2019/01/19 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2020/12/29 06:00 [medline]
PHST- 2019/01/19 06:00 [entrez]
AID - S0031-0808.18.03561-9 [pii]
AID - 10.23736/S0031-0808.18.03561-9 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Panminerva Med. 2020 Mar;62(1):7-12. doi: 10.23736/S0031-0808.18.03561-9. Epub 
      2019 Jan 17.