Effects of baicalin on the proliferation of extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma cells and the sensitivity of the cells to the drug

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of baicalin on the proliferation of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma cells and the sensitivity of the cells to the drug. Methods: Cell-counting-kit (CCK) assay was used to determine cell activity, while the antagonistic, superimposed and synergistic effects of drug combinations were investigated by coefficient of drug interaction (CDI). Cell proliferation was assessed using 5-ethynyl-2’- deoxyuridine (EdU) test. Flow cytometry was carried out to determine the apoptosis of studied extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma cells. Furthermore, western-blot was used to evaluate the expression levels of BCL2, BAX, cleaved-caspase3 and caspase3 of the cells. Results: Survival of SNK-6 and YTS cells decreased gradually in a concentration-dependent manner (r = -0.97 and -0.98). Cell viability at the same concentration diminished with time, but with increase in cisplatin concentration, cell viability at the same time point also decreased. At cisplatin concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 μmol/L, reduction in cell viability between the two groups were significantly different (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the proliferation of SNK-6 and YTS cells decreased with increasing baicalin concentrations while apoptosis of the cells increased with increasing baicalin concentration. Conclusion: Baicalin inhibits the proliferation but promotes the apoptosis of SNK-6 and YTS cells. Cisplatin plus baicalin lowers cell proliferation rate and increase the apoptosis rate of both SNK-6 and YTS cells compared with baicalin or cisplatin alone. This drug combination should be further explored for its apoptosis potential in animal models.