Abstract

To investigate the action of loganin on the oncogenic phenotypes of liver cancer cells. Huh7 cells were treated with loganin, or loganin and 20 μmol/l mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway inhibitor SP600125. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and Transwell assays detects cell abilities. Western blot detects E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, phosphorylated-p38, and p38 protein expressions. Cell survival rate, the number of migratory and invasive Huh7 cells were significantly reduced with the increasing dose of loganin. E-cadherin content was increased, and contents of N-cadherin, vimentin, phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and phosphorylated-p38 proteins were decreased in cells with the increasing dose of loganin. SP600125 could enhance the effects mediated by loganin on Huh7 cells. Loganin could significantly restrain the proliferation and metastasis of liver cancer cells by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.