Abstract:

The inhibition effect of a protein fraction TBWSP31 prepared from tartary buckwheat as described in our previous study on the proliferation of Bcap37 cells was investigated by MTT assay, HE staining and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observation. TBWSP31 exhibited a notable anti-tumor activity in dose- and time-dependent manners and was also sensitive to human mammary cancer cell Bcap37 with IC50 values of 43.37 (48 h)μg/mL and 19.75μg/mL (72 h), respectively. After treated with TBWSP31 for 48 h, Bcap37 cells revealed typical apoptotic characteristics. The HE-stained cells exhibited visible morphological changes such as nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, plasma-membrane blebbing and production of apoptotic bodies under a light microscope. The SEM observations revealed that the decrease of villus, even partial disappearance, plasma-membrane blebbing and production of apoptotic bodies.

Key words: tartary buckwheat, protein, breast cancer cells, apoptotic