Abstract: The carotenoids extracted from red-yolk eggs of ducks fed on Potamogoton crispus L.had a marked inhibition on the proliferation of S 180 tumor. The effects of carotenoids extracts from Potamogoton crispus L. (CEPC) on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma cells QGY-7703 were studied so as to probe the anti-tumor mechanism of the red-yolk eggs. This paper adopted visible light, fluorescence and Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM) to observe the cellular morphology of hepatoma cells under the influence of CEPC. After cells were treated with the medium containing 10, 20 and 40μmol/L CEPC for 24, 48and 72h, respectively, many cardinal morphological features were observed by these microscopes, such as: the number of cells decreased, the volume shrunk, the antennas prolonged, many vesicles heaved out cells surface, the shape of cell nucleuses appeared like crescent or piece and the area of yellow DNA in cell nucleuses decreased. The cells Apoptosis Index ascended when the concentration of CEPC increased and handling time prolonged as determined dy Fluorescence microscope. The CEPC had a marked inhibition on the proliferation of Hepatoma cells and could induce these cells apoptosis. This paper suggested that the carotenoids existed in Potamogoton crispus L. had the potential function of anti-Hepatoma.

Key words: Potamogeton crispus, carotenoids, hepatoma cells, apoptosis, cellular morphology