Objective: To investigate the effects of Shugan Liangxue decoction (SGLXD) on MCF-7 and T47D cells proliferation

and evaluate the effects of SGLXD on the enzymatic activity and mRNA expression of steroid sulfatase (STS). Method: Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer MCF-7 and T47D cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of SGLXD for 24 h. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay

and the mRNA expression of STS was investigated by RT-PCR. After transient co-transfection with plasmid pERE-TK-Luc and pRL-TK in MCF-7 and T47D cells

and treated with different concentrations of SGLXD for 24 h

we evaluated the enzymatic activity of STS by dual-luciferase reporter assay (DLR). Result : By MTT assay

SGLXD inhibited the cell proliferation of MCF-7 and T47D dose-dependently

the IC50 values were 46.08 g ·L-1 and 22.98 g ·L-1. SGLXD down-regulated the expression of STS mRNA at higher concentrations significantly. In MCF-7 and T47D cells

the enzymatic activity of STS was significantly inhibited by SGLXD dose-dependently. Conclusion : SGLXD can inhibit the cell proliferation of MCF-7 and T47D

this effect may be associated with the inhibitory effects of SGLXD on the enzymatic activity of STS and the expression of STS mRNA.