Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanism of ginseng polysaccharide injection on the proliferative inhibition of hepatoma cell line BEL-7402 and HpeG2. Method: The hepatoma cell line BEL-7402 and HpeG2 were treated with different concentrations of ginseng polysaccharide injection. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) was used to detect the proliferative inhibition of cells. Inverted microscope was used to observe the changes both in quantity and morphology of the cells before and after the treatment. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to observe the morphological changes such as apoptosis and necrosis. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1). Result: Ginseng polysaccharide injection could effectively inhibit the proliferation of BEL-7402 and HpeG2 cells (P<0.05)

which was positively correlated with concentration and time. It could significantly inhibit the proliferation of BEL-7402 and HpeG2 cells after 24

48

72 h treatment with the concentrations of 60

80 and 100 g·L-1 ginseng polysaccharide injection (P<0.01). It could also inhibit the proliferation of BEL-7402 and HpeG2 cells after 24

48

72 h treatment with the concentration of 40 g·L-1 (P<0.05). The results of TEM showed that ginseng polysaccharide injection resulted in morphological changes of BEL-7402 and HpeG2 such as nuclear edge set and apoptotic bodies after 48 hours treatment

and vacuoles appeared in part cells after 72 hours treatment. As compared with the blank group

after BEL-7402 and HpeG2 cells were treated with 40

60

80 g·L-1 ginseng polysaccharide injection

the relative expressions of TNFR1 protein were significantly increased (P<0.05

P<0.01). Conclusion: Ginseng polysaccharide injection can effectively inhibit the proliferation of hepatoma cell line BEL-7402 and HpeG2

and the mechanism may be associated with induction of apoptosis.