Objective    To investigate the effects and the underlying mechanisms of artesunate (ART) on the growth and apoptosis of epidermal carcinoma cells.     Methods    The proliferation

cell cycle and apoptosis of A431 cells (a cell line of malignant epidermal carcinoma) were detected with MTT assay and flow cytometer (FCM). HaCaT cells (an immortalized keratinocyte cell line) served as normal control

and diamminedichloroplatinum (DDP) as drug positive control. Deferoxamine mesylat

e (DFOM) was employed to block the effect of ART.     Results    ART showed obviously inhibitory effect on the proliferation of A431 cells

and had lesser toxicant to HaCaT cells compared with DDP. When 60 μmol/L ART (IC

50

) was used to treat A431 cells for 48 h

the cells was arrested in S phase [(67.60±4.12)%

P0.05

]

; and their apoptotic rate was increased to (19.87±0.03)% (P0.01). However

when the A431 cells was pretreated with 60 μmol/L DFOM for 4 h followed with the treatment as above mentioned

there was no change in cell cycle distribution

and the apoptotic rate was (7.37±0.02)% (P0.01).     Conclusion    ART significantly suppresses the proliferation of A431 cells by arresting the cells in S phase and inducing cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Fe

2+

might mediate the apoptosis of A431 cells induced by ART. ART has lower toxicant to A431 cells than DDP.