Apoptosis in Human Hepatoma Cell Line SMMC‐7721 Induced by Water‐soluble Macromolecular Components of Artemisia capillaris Thunberg

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of water‐soluble macromolecular components of Artemisia capillaris Thunberg (ACT) on human hepatoma cell line SMMC‐7721 (SMMC‐7721). The morphological changes of SMMC‐7721 were observed under a light microscope and an electron microscope. Inhibition of proliferation was measured with a colorimetric MTT assay. It was discovered that ACT extract‐treated cells exhibit morphological changes typical of apoptosis, including condensed chromatin and a reduction in volume. ACT extract at 25–200 μg/ml dosedependently inhibited the proliferation of SMMC‐7721. The 50% effective dose, evaluated on day 3 of exposure to the extract, was 64.52±3.53 μg/ml. Upon gel electrophoresis, the fragmented DNA showed a characteristic ladder pattern. Cell cycle analyses revealed that ACT induced cell cycle arrest at the G(0)/G(1) phase.