Objective      To determine the inhibitory effect of steroid sapogenin RCE-4 derived from Reineckia carnea (Andr.) Kunth on the growth of human cervical cancer xenograft in nude mice.       Methods      Steroidal saponin RCE-4I was extracted and identified by conventional methods. Nude mice model of transplanted tumor of human cervical cancer Caski cells were established by subcutaneously injection of 0.3 mL cells

(4×10

7

) under the right hind leg. Caski cervical cancer model mice were randomly divided into model group

paclitaxel (10 mg/kg) and RCE-4 (25

50 and 100 mg/kg) groups

once a day for 4 weeks. Then all mice were sacrificed in 24 h after the final medication

and the volume and weight of transplanted tumor masses were measured to calculate the tumor inhibitory rate. Morphological changes of transplanted tumor tissue were observed by light microscopy

apoptotic rate was determined by TUNEL staining

COX-2 expression in the tumor tissues was detected by immunohistochemical assay

the mRNA levels of Bcl-2

Bax

Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 were detected by real-time PCR

and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was analyzed

and the expression level of survivin protein in the tumor tissue was detected by Western blot analysis.       Results      RCE-4 (25

50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the volume and weight of the transplanted tumor in the nude mice (P0.05

P0.01)

up-regulated the mRNA expression levels of Bax

Caspase-3 and Caspase-9

down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 at mRNA level and COX-2 and survivin at protein level

and reduced the Bcl-2/Bax ratio (P0.05

P0.01).       Conclusion      RCE-4 significantly inhibites the growth of human cervical cancer in nude mice

which may be associated with up-regulating the expression of Bax

Caspase-3 and Caspase-9

and down-regulating the expression of survivin

Bcl-2 and COX-2.