Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of extracts from Periplaneta americana on reversing multi- drug
resistance to Bel-7402/5-Fu. Methods: Multi-drug resistance to cancer agents and nontoxic dose of the Periplaneta americana extract
CⅡ-3 and skim cream were evaluated by MTT assay. The effect of mitochondrial membrane potential and expressions of Bcl-2, Bax,
Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 were detected in Bel-7402/5-Fu cells affected with CⅡ-3 and skim cream. Results: Bel-7402/5-Fu cells
showed high resistance to 5-Fu, the resistance ratio was 66.42. The dose of CⅡ-3 was lower than 93.37 μg/mL, and the dose of skim
cream was lower than 47.81 μg/mL. CⅡ-3 and the skimmed cream could decrease mitochondrial membrane potential and CⅡ-3 was
stronger than the skimmed cream. CⅡ-3 and the skimmed cream could inhibit the Bcl-2 protein expression of Bel-7402/5-Fu and the
inhibition effect increased with the dose amount; could promote the expression of Bax protein and the promoting effect increased with
the dose amount; could activate downstream pathways of Caspase-9, Caspase-3, and the promoting effect increased with the dose
amount. Conclusion: The Periplaneta americana extract CⅡ-3 and the skimmed cream can effectively reverse MDR in Bel-7402/5-
Fu cells. The mechanism is to decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential, and regulate the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-9
and Caspase-3 protein.

Key words: Periplaneta americana, reversion, Hepatocellular carcinoma, multi-drug resistance