Role of reactive oxygen species in 23-hydroxybetulinic acid-induced apoptosis in LoVo cells

AIM: To investigate the changes of reactive oxygen species(ROS) in apoptosis of LoVo cells induced by 23-hydroxybetulinic acid.METHODS: LoVo cells were treated with 23-hydroxybetulinic acid.The apoptotic morphological change was observed under the light microscope.Intracellular ROS production and the rate of apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.RESULTS: LoVo cells improved apoptotic morphological changes treated with 23-hydroxybetulinic acid for 48 h.At concentrations of 25,50,100,200 μmol/L of 23-hydroxybetulinic acid,the apoptotic rates of LoVo cells were(7.17±2.31)%,(15.60±4.02)%,(32.47±5.25)% and(52.71±5.93)%,respectively.The results indicated a certain concentration-dependent relationship.23-hydroxybetulinic acid caused an increase in the ROS production,and the ROS levels were 2.83±0.80,5.97±1.72,12.53±2.57 and 16.73±4.58.Compared with the control group(2.13±0.32),the increase in ROS production in LoVo cells at the concentration of 100,200 μmol/L of 23-hydroxybetulinic acid treatment was significant(P0.05).CONCLUSION: 23-hydroxybetulinic acid induces LoVo cell apoptosis.The production of ROS may play a crucial role in the process of the LoVo cell apoptosis.