Inhibitive Effect of Allicin on Proliferation of Human Hepatoma Cell HepG2

Objective To investigate the effect of allicin on cell growth,cell apoptosis and cell cycle in human hepatoma cell HepG2 in vitro. Methods The human hepatoma cell HepG2 was cultured and treated by allicin in different concentrations in vitro. MTT assay was used to test dynamically the inhibitive effect of the cell growth. Morphologic change was observed by using the fluorescent microscope. The modulation of DNA cell cycle and apoptosis induction were measured by flow cytometry. Results Allicin had inhibitive effects on growth of HepG2 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner,with the IC50 value of(48.26±1.66)μg/mL,(31.89±1.51)μg/mL and(23.79±1.32)μg/mL at 24h,48h and 72h respectively. When the cells were treated with allicin at the concentration of 32μg/mL for 48h,HepG2 cells were notably induced into apoptosis. Flow cytometry showed that allicin could block cell growth at G2/M phase. Conclusion It is suggested that allicin inhibits HepG2 cell proliferation,which is associated with the induction of apoptosis and arrestment of cell cycle.