Effects of ursolic acid and meloxicam on proliferation of gastric cancer cells

Objective To investigate the regulative effects of ursolic acid and meloxicam on the proliferation of human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901.Methods SGC-7901 cells were seeded in RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum and routinely incubated for 24 h.After treatment with either ursolic acid or meloxicam both at a final concentration of 10,20,40 or 80 μmol/L for 12,24 and 48 h.The cell proliferation was determined using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)colorimetric assay and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)protein level was measured with Western blot.Results Both ursolic acid and meloxicam significantly inhibited SGC-7901 cell proliferation in a dose-and time-dependent manner.The inhibitory rate in the cells treated with ursolic acid was significantly lower than that treated with meloxicam(P0.05).Ursolic acid and meloxicam dose-dependently inhibited COX-2 expression in SGC-7901 cells.The inhibitory effect of ursolic acid on the expression of COX-2 was significantly lower than that of meloxicam(P0.05).Conclusion Both ursolic acid and meloxicam inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer cells,which may be related to down-regulation of COX-2 expression.