To explore the effect of juglone on proliferation and apoptosis of human cervical squamous cancer SiHa cells.

Cultured SiHa cells in the exponential growth phase were grouped into blank control group and 10, 20, 50, 80 and 100 μmol/L juglone treatment groups. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was adopted to observe the inhibitory effect of juglone on the proliferation of SiHa cells, and then 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) was calculated through formula. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining and flow cytometry were used to detect the effect of 20 μmol/L juglone on SiHa cell apoptosis. Western blot was applied to determine the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax.

MTT assay showed that, compared with the control group, treatment groups all showed significant inhibitory effects on SiHa cell growth, and IC50 was 20.4 μmol/L. Flow cytometry demonstrated that early apoptosis rate of SiHa cells in the control group was (2.46 ± 0.37)%, and after treatment with 20 μmol/L Juglone for 12 hours, the apoptosis rate was raised to (18.47 ± 2.26)%; Western blot analysis showed that the expression of Bcl-2 decreased while the expression of Bax increased significantly in SiHa cells treated with 20 μmol/L juglone.

Juglone could significantly inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of SiHa cells.