Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of sanguinarine(SANG)on the inhibitory proliferation in ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells.Methods CCK-8 assay was used to detect proliferation of SKOV3 cells.Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of SANG on apoptosis in SKOV3 cells.The spectrophotometer was used to detect the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)by SANG.The mouse ovarian cancer xenograft model was used to detect the inhibitory effect of SANG on tumor growth.Results SANG promoted apoptosis in SKOV3 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner.The SANG-induced apoptosis was associated with the production of ROS,Activated the c-Jun-N-terminal kinase(JNK)and nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathways.In mouse model of ovarian cancer xenografts,after intravenous injection of mice with SANG,SANG was significantly inhibited the growth of ovarian cancer xenografts when compared to the control group.SANG also significantly induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer xenografts.Conclusion SANG can significantly inhibit the proliferation of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells,induce apoptosis,increase the production of ROS,and inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer.

Key words: Sanguinarine, Apoptosis, Reactive oxygen species, Ovarian cancer