Abstract:Objective:To study the antiproliferation effects of petasin on human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells and the possible mechanisms involved.Methods:The inhibitory effects of petasin on proliferation of tumor cells was detected by SRB assay;the effects ofpetasin on cell cycle arrest of SK-N-SH were measured by flow cytometry; the effects of apoptosis were examined by Hochest 33258 staining and flow cytometry and thephosphorylationof ERK1/2 of SK-N-SHwas determined bywestern blotting.Results:Compared to that of other cancer cell lines such as SGC7901, SPC-A-1, SMMC 7721, Ec9706, SK-N-BE (2) and U251, the proliferation of SK-N-SH cells were strongly inhibited by petasin. After treated with petasin, the cell cycle of SK-N-SH arrested in G0/G1 phase, and there was no apoptosis detected either by Hoechst 33258 staining or by flow cytometry analysis. Finally, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was decreased by pretreatment with petasin in a dose-dependent way.Conclusion:Petasin is a potential anti-tumor of natural compounds, and shows the strong antiproliferation effect on SK-N-SH cells without inducing apoptosis. The inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation might be involved in the antiproliferation effects of petasin.

Key words:petasin,SK-N-SH,cell,proliferation,ERK1/2