[Combination of triptolide with sodium cantharidinate synergistically enhances apoptosis on
 hepatoma cell line 7721].

Objective: To determine the combined cytotoxic effect and the molecular basis of triptolide and sodium cantharidinate on hepatoma cell line 7721.

Methods: After treating the hepatoma cell line 7721 with triptolide(9, 18, or 36 μg/mL) and/or sodium cantharidinate (2, 5, or 10 μg/mL), cell viability assay and apoptosis were examined by MTT and flocytometry, respectively. The protein levels of caspase 3 and nuclear factor κB were analyzed by Western blot.

Results: Viability of hepatoma cell line 7721 was inhibited by either the therapy of triptolide and/or sodium cantharidinate (P<0.05) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The combined effects of both drugs were better than those of the single drug (P<0.05). The combined therapy down-regulated the expression of NF-κB p65 (P<0.05) while up-regulated the expression of caspase-3 (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Triptolide and sodium cantharidinate exert a synergistic toxic effect on hepatoma cell line 7721, which is related to increasing capase-3 activity and suppression of NF- κB.