Liriodenine has wide pharmacological functions in phytochemistry, pharmacology and antitumor activities. The anticancer effects of
liriodenine on the cell growth and apoptosis of human
breast cancer MCF-7 cells, and the underlying mechanisms, are yet to be elucidated. Therefore, the present study investigated the anticancer effects of
liriodenine on the cell growth and apoptosis of human
breast cancer MCF-7 cells. We used MTT assay to measure cell growth, and flow cytometer and
DAPI staining was used to analyze cell apoptosis. Then, Western blot analysis was executed to measure B-cell lymphoma-2
protein (Bcl-2),
cyclin D1,
vascular endothelial growth factor (
VEGF), and p53
protein expression. The effect of
liriodenine induced significant apoptosis and suppression of cell growth of the MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the potential mechanism underlying its antitumor effect on MCF-7 cells may result from activation of
caspase-3 activity, Bcl-2,
cyclin D1 and
VEGF, and promotion of p53
protein expression in MCF-7 cells. Therefore, the present results indicated that the anticancer effects of
liriodenine suppress cell growth and induce the apoptosis of human
breast cancer MCF-7 cells through inhibition of Bcl-2,
cyclin D1 and
VEGF expression, and upregulation of p53 expression. Therefore,
liriodenine may be a potential
therapy for the treatment of human
breast cancer.