Puerarin suppresses cell growth and migration in HPV-positive cervical cancer cells by inhibiting the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway

Puerarin is an effective component that is present in high concentrations in the Pueraria lobata plant and is extensively distributed throughout nature. Puerarin possesses a number of pharmacological effects and has strong pharmacological activity with few side effects and extensive clinical applications. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of Puerarin on the apoptosis of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive cervical cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. MTT assay, lactate dehydrogenase activity and Annexin V/fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide analysis were used to analyze cell growth of HPV-positive HeLa cervical cancer cells treated with Puerarin. Western blotting was performed to measure protein expression in the treated cells. Puerarin significantly reduced cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. In addition, it was observed that Puerarin significantly enhanced caspase-3/9 activities and significantly increased B-cell lymphoma 2-asscoiate X protein expression in HeLa cells. Puerarin suppressed phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated (p)-protein kinase B (Akt) and p-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) protein expression in HeLa cells. These results indicate that Puerarin induces apoptosis in HPV-positive HeLa cervical cancer cells via inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling.