Baicalein Inhibits the Proliferation of Cervical Cancer Cells Through the GSK3 beta-Dependent Pathway

摘要

Baicalein, a flavonoid derived from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis, has been reported to possess multiple pharmacological activities, such as anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the effect of baicalein in cervical cancer cells. Cell growth curve and mil' assay were performed and revealed that baicalein inhibited the proliferation of SiHa and HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner. We further found that baicalein arrested the cell cycle of SiHa and HeLa cells at the G(0)/G(1) phase by suppressing the expression of cyclin DI through the downregulation of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT) and phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (p-GSIC3 according to FACS assays and Western blotting. Moreover, when CHIR-99021, a GSK3 beta inhibitor, was added to baicalein-treated SiHa cells, the expression of cyclin D1 was recovered, and cell proliferation was promoted. In conclusion, these data indicated that baicalein suspended the cell cycle at the G(0)/G(1) phase via the downregulation of cyclin Dl through the AKT-GSK3 beta signaling pathway and further inhibited the proliferation of SiHa and HeLa cervical cancer cells.