Objective: To observe the effects of Tengligen (root of Actinidia chinensis Planch) on cell growth in suspension and anoikis in human colon carcinoma RKO cells. Method: RKO cells were treated with Tengligen (200-800 mg·L-1) or same volume of RPMI1640.Cell growth in suspension was detected with CCK-8 assay. Anoikis was visualized by EthD-1 staining. Caspase-3 activities were detected by colorimetric assay. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was observed by 2'

7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate staining. Result: 200-800 mg·L-1 of Tengligen

significantly inhibited RKO cell growth in suspension in a dose dependent manner (P<0.01). After 200-800 mg·L-1 of treatment

EthD-1 was absorbed by suspension-cultured RKO cells to yield a red-fluorescent nuclear staining

and nuclear fragmentation was observed in partial cells. The EthD-1 fluorescence in 200-800 mg·L-1 of Tengligen treated RKO cells were compared with controls (P<0.01). 200-800 mg·L-1 of Tengligen also activated caspase-3 and upregulated intracellular ROS generation (P<0.01). Conclusion: Tengligen could inhibit RKO cell growth in suspension

induce anoikis in RKO cells

and may associate with caspase-3 activation and ROS production.