Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism of allicin combined with 5-FU in the treatment for colon cancer. Methods HT-29 cells were divided into 4 groups as control,allicin(15 μg/mL),5-FU(15 μg/mL)and allicin(15 μg/mL)combined with 5-FU(15 μg/mL)groups.The inhibitory rate of cell proliferation was determined in HT-29 cells by CCK-8 assay.Flow cytometry was used to observation of apoptosis.The levels of mTOR,PTEN,Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression were determined by Real-time PCR. Results Compared with the blank control group,proliferation of HT-29 cells was inhibited in the drug or allicin groups(P＜0.05).Among them,the allicin-associated 5-FU group had the most significant inhibitory effect.The apoptotic cells in each drug group were significantly more than the blank control group,and the apoptotic cells in the allicin combined with 5-FU group were the most significant.Compared with the blank control group,the levels of Bcl-2 and mTOR mRNA significantly decreased and the expression levels of Bax and PTEN mRNA increased significantly in each drug group.The most significant changes were observed in the allicin and 5-FU combination group. Conclusion The combination of allicin and 5-FU could inhibit the proliferation and promote apoptosis in HT29 cells.Allicin has the ability to enhance 5-FU-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells.

Key words: HT29, Allicin, 5-FU, mTOR, PTEN, Bcl-2, Bax