Objective: To explore the effect of the Chinese caterpillar fungus isolated from natural Paecilomyces hepiali strain (Cs-4) inhibited by artificial fermentation

the Fermented-4 powder on SMMC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth. Method: Twenty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=5):control group and Cs-4 low

medium and high dose groups

control group was treated with distilled water

Cs-4 low

middle and high dose groups were treated with distilled water to prepare the Cs-4 (0.77

1.54

3.08 g·kg-1

ig)suspension

according to the 10 mL·kg-1 body weight orallyorally

2 times twice a daily;after intragastric administrationfor 3 days

the serum containing drug was prepared. The liver cell suspension was adjusted to 4×104 cells/mL

each hole of 96 hole plate was added with 100 μL cell suspension culture. After 24 h

the holes were respectively added with 160 μL cells culture fluid and 40 μL blank serum and containing Cs-4.After 48 h MTT detection was carried out

the inhibition rate of proliferation of cells was calculated. The SMMC-7721 cell suspension was adjusted to 2.8×104 cells/mL

were cultured in 6 well plates (each hole 2 mL inoculation) for 24 h

the holes were added to 1.6 mL cells suspension and 0.4 mL black serum and containing drug serum were added after 48 h

Annexin V-FITC/PI staining by flow cytometry was used to detect of apoptosis;expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)

matrix metalloproteinases-2(MMP-2) were detected with ELISA method. Result: MTT showed the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells was significantly inhibited by containing Cs-4 serum compared with the blank control group(P <0.05)

the different dose inhibition rates were 12.2%

23.2%

38.1% in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis detection showed that in containing Cs-4 serum groups

the apoptosis rates were 13.9%

23.5%

24.9%

which was higher than those in the blank group (P <0.05). In containing Cs-4 serum groups

the concentration of VEGF in supernatant was respectively 443.5

436.9

411.0 ng·L-1

which was lower than that in control group (P <0.05). Conclusion: The containing Cs-4 serum can inhibit the proliferation and VEGF expression of SMMC-7721 cells

and increase the apoptosis of SMMC-7721 suggesting Cs-4 had anti-tumor metastasis action.