Abstract

The in vitro inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects of three different Lophophora williamsiiextracts were observed in HeLa cells. Methanol, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hydroxide were used to extract active compounds from the caudices of L. williamsii. The inhibitory effects of the extracts on HeLa cells were detected by Methyl Thiazolyl Tetrazolium (MTT) assay and the apoptosis-inducing effects were assessed by analyzing caspase 3 and PARP expression using Western blotting. The methanolic, HCl, and NaOH extracts at 150 μg/ml, exhibited 91.98, 96.14, and 25.64% inhibition rates, respectively. The median effective concentrations EC₅₀ of the methanolic and HCl extracts were 4.2 and 7.8 μg/ml, respectively. The HeLa cells showed a DNA ladder pattern in the Western blot, as well as upregulation of caspase 3 and PARP after treatment with the methanolic extract. Therefore, both the methanolic and HCl extracts inhibit the growth of HeLa cells, with the former capable of inducing apoptosis.

Key words: Lophophora williamsii, Hela cells, extracts inhibitive, apoptosis.