Abstract: AIM: To investigate the apoptosis-inducing and proliferation inhibition effect of solanum lyratum thunb (SLT) extract and its molecular mechanism on human cervical cancer HeLa cells. METHODS: Dried whole herbs of SLT were extracted by boiling distilled water.Human cervical cancer HeLa cells were randomly divided into the control group, SLT-treated groups (12.5, 25.0, 50.0 mg/mL) and DDP (25.0 mg/L) group. Morphological changes of apoptosis were observed by fluorescence microscope.DNA ladders were examined by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and the expression of survivin mRNA and caspase-3 mRNA were detected by semiquantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: SLT extract displayed a strong proliferation inhibitory effect in a dose-and-timedependent manner in HeLa cells.Nuclear shrinkage, chromatin condensation and margination were observed under a fluorescence microscope in HeLa cells treated with SLT extract and DDP.Survivin mRNA levels were down-regulated while caspase-3 were up-regulated. CONCLUSION: SLT extract displays a strong proliferation inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effect in a doseand-time-dependent manner in HeLa cells.The molecular mechanism of apoptosis of HeLa cells induced by SLT extract has possibly related to up-regulating expression of caspase-3 gene and down-regulating survivin gene.

Key words: solanum lyratum thunb, HeLa cells, apoptosis, survivin, caspase-3