Abstract: AIM: To study the effect of berberine,alkaloid,on GLC-82 cell apoptosis.METHODS: GLC-82 cells were cultured with different concentrations of berberine.Proliferation inhibition of berberine on GLC-82cells was evaluated by MTT assay.Morphologic changes of berberine-treated cells were observed by light microscope.Apoptotic cells with condensed orfragmented nuclei were visualized by Hoechst33258 by a fluorescence microscope.Nuclei area and apoptotic rate were measured with the use of QWin.The protein expressions of Caspase-3 and PARPwere analyzed by fluorescence immunohistochemical method (SABC-Cy3),fluorescent intensity of Caspase-3 and PARPwere measured with the use of QWin.RESULTS: 48 h afterberberine treatment,apoptotic cells increased dose-dependently,morphological changes of GLC-82 Cells showed many hall-mark features of apoptosis,including nuclei dwindle and chromatin aggregation and fragmented nuclei.Inhibition of GLC-82 cell proliferation was concentration-dependent,the IC50 value forberberine was 19.9 mg·L^-1.36 h afterberberine treatment,the measurement of fluorescent intensity showed 20 mg·L^-1of berberine increased the intensity levels of Caspase-3 and PARP.CONCLUSION: The berberine evoked GLC-82 cell apoptosis is correlation with the up-regulation of Caspase-3.This study indicated that berberine might be a potential Chinese medical component forlung neoplasm.

Key words: berberine, GLC-82 cells, apoptosis, Caspase-3, PARP