[Effects and mechanisms of total flavonoids of astragali radix and calycosin on inhibiting human erythroleukemia cell line K562].

To investigate the effects of total flavonoids of Astragali Radix (TFA) and calycosin on apoptosis induction and cell cycle in human erythroleukemia cell line K562. MTT assay was used to measure the inhibition effect on the proliferation of K562 cells cultured with TFA and calycosin. The effect of TFA and calycosin on cell cycle in K562 was detected by PI staining. The apoptosis induction effect was measured by Annexin V/PI double staining. RT-PCR was used to determine the level of Cyclin D1 mRNA in K562 cells after treated with TFA and calycosin. TFA and calycosin could inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells, the 50% inhibiting concentration of TFA and calycosin were 98.63 mg x L(-1) and 130.32 mg x L(-1) respectively. TFA and calycosin could not induce apoptosis in K562 cells, but could increase the number of cells in the G0/G1 phase. The level of Cyclin D1 mRNA in K562 cells decreased after treated with TFA and calycosin. TFA could inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells, and attribute to arrest them in the G0/G1 phase and decrease Cyclin D1 mRNA. Show more