Abstract: Objective To investigate the molecular mechanisms of acetoacetate extractive of Celastrus
orbiculatus Thunb. inducing the apoptosis of HepG2 cells via detecting the expression of apoptosis proteins.
Methods The apoptosis rates of HepG2 cells intervened by different concentrations of acetoacetate extractive
of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. (15 μg/ml, 30 μg/ml, 60 μg/ml, 120 μg/ml and 240 μg/ml) at 12 hours were
detected by flow cytometry. The expression of Cytochrome-c, caspase 3 and cleaved caspase-9 after intervened
by different concentrations of acetoacetate extractive of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. (30 μg/ml, 60 μg/ml
and 120 μg/ml at 12 hours and 60 μg/ml and 120 μg/ml at 48 hours) were detected by Western blot. Results
The acetoacetate extractive of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. (15 μg/ml, 30 μg/ml and 60 μg/ml) induced the
apoptiosis of HepG2 cells, and facilitated the expression of apoptotic proteins such as Cytochrome-c, cleaved
caspase-9 and caspase-3. With the increased concentration of acetoacetate extractive of Celastrus orbiculatus
Thunb., the expression levels of apoptotic proteins improved. Conclusion The mechanism of the acetoacetate
extractive of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. inducing the apoptosis of HepG2 cells may be the activation of the
mitochondrial apoptotic pathway: leading to the release of mitochondrial mediators such as Cytochrome-c,
cleaved caspase-9 and caspase-3.