Aloperine Induces Apoptosis by a Reactive Oxygen Species Activation Mechanism in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells

Background: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy worldwide with poor prognosis owing to chemotherapy resistance and cancer relapse. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel anticancer agents against ovarian cancer.

Objective: The aim of this research is to investigate the possible anticancer activity of aloperine, an active ingredient from a traditional Chinese medicine Sophora alopecuroides, and to explore the possible Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-related mechanism.

Methods: Cell viability, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, ROS generation, and oxidant stress indicators were analyzed.

Results: Our results demonstrated that aloperine significantly induced inhibition of cell viability, promoted cytotoxicity and mitochondrial-related apoptosis, and increased ROS generation in ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, the antioxidant α-lipoic acid reversed apoptosis in aloperinetreated cells. In addition, we identified hydrogen peroxide as the main type of ROS, and the antioxidant catalase suppressed the apoptotic inducing effect of aloperine whereas hydrogen peroxide supplement exacerbated the effect of aloperine in ovarian cancer cells.

Conclusion: Taken together, our results indicated that aloperine could exert anti-ovarian cancer cell activity through a reactive oxygen species activation mechanism and suggested aloperine as a potential agent against ovarian cancer.