Abstract: AIM: To study the reverse and apoptosis effects of momordica at non-cytotoxic concentration reversing the multidrug resistance (MDR) leukemia cell line K562/AO2.METHODS: The cytotoxic effect of momordica and the sensitivity to the K562/AO2 cell lines were determined by CCK-8 colorimetry.The apoptosis rate of the K562/AO2 cell lines in control group and other groups were detected by flow cytometry.RESULTS: Momordica had definite cytotoxic effect on K562/AO2, the non-cytotoxic concentration was 5 μg/mL, the momordica at non-cytotoxic concentration could partly reverse the MDR of K562/AO2 cell lines to adriamycin, vincristine, daunomycin (5.4, 6.5 and 4.0 times).The apoptosis of the K562/AO2 cell lines were induced at the 5 μg/mL momordica combined with vincristine, and the apoptosis rate was (19.38± 1.06)%.The apoptosis rate of the control group, single momordica group, single vincristine group were (1.64±0.27)%, (3.79± 0.82)%, (9.83± 0.98)%, respectively.CONCLUSION: Momordica could partly reverse the MDR of K562/AO2 cell lines in different groups such as adriamycin, vincristine and daunomycin.A certain dose of momordica combined with vincristine could increase the apoptosis rate of tumour cells.

Key words: momordica, K562/AO2 cell, multidrug resistant