Quercetin Suppresses Proliferation of Liver Cancer Cell Lines In Vitro.

BACKGROUND/AIM We investigated the anti-proliferative effect of quercetin on liver cancer cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirteen liver cancer cell lines were cultured followed by treatment with varying concentrations of quercetin (0-100 μM) or quercetin and 5-FU, and the cell viability was analysed by the MTT assay. Flow cytometry was also used to examine cell cycle progression after treatment with quercetin. RESULTS The addition of quercetin resulted in a dose- and time-dependent suppression of cell proliferation. In some cell lines, treatment with quercetin and 5-FU caused an additional or synergistic effect. Most cell lines displayed cell cycle arrest at different phases of the cell cycle. CONCLUSION Quercetin inhibits the proliferation of liver cancer cells via induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.