Wilfortrine can induce liver cancer cell HepG2 apoptosis, but with no effect on the cell cycle, mainly by promoting Bax expression and inhibiting anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression.

We investigated the role of Wilfortrine on liver cancer cell HepG2 apoptosis and analyzed its possible mechanisms to provide a theoretical basis for clinical analysis of liver cancer pathogenesis. The liver cancer cell line HepG2 was treated with 40 mM Wilfortrine for 48 h. Flow cytometry was applied to detect HepG2 cell apoptosis and cell cycle changes. Western blot was used to analyze Bcl-2 and Bax expression. The HepG2 cell apoptosis rate increased significantly after treatment with Wilfortrine, especially the early apoptosis rate (P < 0.05). However, Wilfortrine did not change the cell cycle of HepG2 cells. After Wilfortrine treatment, Bcl- 2 expression decreased significantly (P < 0.05); on the contrary, Bax expression increased noticeably compared with the control group (P < 0.05).