Background and purpose: Plumbagin is the main active components of traditional Chinese medicine of plumbago zeylanica. The present studies show that plumbagin has a killing effect on tumor cells. This study aimed to investigate the function and primary mechanism of plumbagin on invasion and metastasis of human liver cancer SK-hep-1 cells. Methods: With the treatment of plumbagin in vitro

cell proliferation and adhesion of SK-hep-1 cells were detected by MTS staining

cell cycle of SK-hep-1 cells were detected by flow cytometry

the selfrenewal and propagation abilities of SK-Hep-1 cells were conducted by colony formation assay

invasion in cells were performed using transwell invasion assay

and the p21 and MMP-2/9 mRNA levels were detected by real-time RT-PCR. Results: Wit

h the treatment of plumbagin

SK-Hep-1 cells proliferation was decreased with plumbagin concentrationdependency and the IC

50

value of plumbagin in SK-Hep-1 cells was 22.04 mmol/L. The colony formation ability of SKHep-1 cells was decreased and the percentage of cells in G

0

/G

1

phase was increased in a dose-dependent manner

as compared to control. The cell adhesion and invasion abilities were decreased. The real-time RT-PCR showed that p21 mRNA expression was increased and the MMP-2/9 mRNA was decreased. Conclusion: Plumbagin could suppress the proliferation and invasiveness of human liver cancer SK-hep-1 cells in vitro

and these effects may be by up-regulation of p21 and down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9.