Anticancer activity of trilinolein from Panax notoginseng in human non‐small cell lung cancer cells A549

The aim of the study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which trilinolein, an unsaturated fatty acid exerts its inhibitory effects and apoptotic activity in human non‐small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) A549. The effects of trilinolein on the proliferation of A549 cells and on the distribution of cells within different phases of the cell cycle were investigated indirectly using a flow cytometer, respectively. Factors affecting the cell cycle and apoptosis, including p53, p21, Bax, Bcl2, cytochrome c caspase 3, and caspase 9 expressions, were examined by Western blotting. Our results demonstrate that 75 μg/ml trilinolein significantly induce apoptosis after 24 h exposure in A549 cells. In addition, A549 cells were arrested in the G0/G1 phase through the induction of p53/p21 by trilinolein. Apoptosis was associated with an increased Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio, cytochrome c release, cleavage of procaspases‐9 and ‐3, and hydrolysis of PARP. This study demonstrates that trilinolein affects the development of A549 lung cancer.