Ferulic acid promoting apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cell lines

OBJECTIVE: To explore the promoting apoptosis and antitumor activities of ferulic acid (FA) in human osteosarcoma and its potential mechanism. METHODS: The SaOS-2 and MG63 osteosarcoma cell lines were opted to experiment and these cells were, respectively, cultured with various concentrations of FA (0 μM, 10 μM, 20 μM, 40 μM) for 72 hours at 37°C. The viabilities of the FA treated cells were monitored by MTT. Apoptosis cells were evaluated using annexin V/PI by flow cytometry. Apoptosis proteins caspase-3, procaspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by western blot. Expressions of apoptotic genes Bcl-2 and Bax were quantified by qPCR. RESULTS: The cell viabilities were critically declined in the concentration-dependent manner in FA groups (P < 0.01). The apoptosis cells were increased proportionately with the concentration of FA (P < 0.05). The procaspase-3 protein contents, and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein contents were significantly decreased while caspase-3 protein contents, and Bax mRNA and protein contents were concomitantly increased in the concentration-dependent manner in FA groups (P < 0.05). The response to FA by the SaOS-2 osteosarcoma cell was similar with the MG63 osteosarcoma cell (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ferulic acid could significantly descend osteosarcoma cell viability through the promoting apoptosis pathway in which FA activates both caspase-3 and Bax and inactivates Bcl-2.