The Effect of Calycosin-7-O-β-D-Glucoside and its Synergistic Augmentation of Cisplatin-induced Apoptosis in SK-OV-3 Cells

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to examine the synergetic augmentation of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (CG) on cisplatin (CDDP) to induce apoptosis of human epithelial ovarian SK-OV-3 cancer cells. Methods: The SK-OV-3 cells were divided into four groups: control, CDDP monotherapy, CG monotherapy, and combined CDDP and CG treatment. The cell counting kit-8 method detected cell proliferation at different times and under different treatments. Hoechst 33258 staining and annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining methods were used to observe the apoptosis of the SK-OV-3 cells. The caspase-3 enzyme activity detection method, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and western blot were used to detect the apoptosis-related factors and the activities of the enzyme in SK-OV-3 cells. Results: The inhibition rates of SK-OV-3 cell proliferation when exposed to 10 μM of CDDP, 50 μM of CG, and a combination of 10 μM of CDDP and 50 μM of CG were 23.2% ± 1.1%, 26.7% ± 2.0%, and 46.7% ± 1.3% after 48 h, respectively. Following the use of the drug combination, the apoptosis rate and caspase-3 enzyme activity were significantly higher than in the single-drug treatment group; the data differences were also significant (p < 0.05). At the protein and ribonucleic acid levels, CG significantly enhanced the effect of CDDP on p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax, and Bcl-2. Conclusion: In vitro, CG significantly increases the CDDP-induced apoptosis of the SK-OV-3 cells through the p53 pathway at the cellular level. In addition, using the drugs in combination reduces the toxicity and side effects caused by using CDDP alone.