Ferulic acid promoting apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cell lines

Objective: to explore the promoting apoptosis and antitumor activities of ferulic acid (fa) in human osteosarcoma and its potential mechanism. methods: the saos-2 and mg63 osteosarcoma cell lines were opted to experiment and these cells were,respectively,cultured with various concentrations of fa (0 µm,10 µm,20 µm,40 µm) for 72 hours at 37°c. the viabilities of the fa treated cells were monitored by mtt. apoptosis cells were evaluated using annexin v/pi by flow cytometry. apoptosis proteins caspase-3,procaspase-3,bcl-2 and bax were detected by western blot. expressions of apoptotic genes bcl-2 and bax were quantified by qpcr. results: the cell viabilities were critically declined in the concentration-dependent manner in fa groups (p < 0.01). the apoptosis cells were increased proportionately with the concentration of fa (p < 0.05). the procaspase-3 protein contents,and bcl-2 mrna and protein contents were significantly decreased while caspase-3 protein contents,and bax mrna and protein contents were concomitantly increased in the concentration-dependent manner in fa groups (p < 0.05). the response to fa by the saos-2 osteosarcoma cell was similar with the mg63 osteosarcoma cell (p > 0.05). conclusion: ferulic acid could significantly descend osteosarcoma cell viability through the promoting apoptosis pathway in which fa activates both caspase-3 and bax and inactivates bcl-2. © 2017,professional medical publications. all rights reserved.