Baicalein inhibits the invasion of human cervical cancer cells by inhibiting the hedgehog/Gli signaling pathway

Purpose: To identify the role of baicalein in human cervical cancer and to determine whether baicalein treatment affects hedgehog/Gli signaling pathway. Methods: Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and colony formation assays. Cell death rate was assessed by PI-staining and FACS assay. Furthermore, cell invasion was assessed by Transwell assay while the levels of the key proteins were measured by western blotting analysis. Results: Baicalein suppressed the viability and proliferation of HeLa cells. The colony formation ability and relative migration rate were significantly decreased in the HeLa cells treated with 50 mu M baicalein. Furthermore, the levels of Shh, Gli1, MMP-9, and VEGF declined significantly in baicalein-treated cells. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that baicalein inhibits the growth and invasiveness of cervical cancer cells partly by suppressing the activation of hedgehog/Gli signaling pathway in a concentration-dependent manner.