Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIM: To study the growth inhibition effect of Vitamin E succinate(VES) on SGC-7901 cells, and explore SGC-7901 VES-induced apoptosis and its possible mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After SGC-7901 cells were treated with 0,5,10,20 μg/ml VES and 1 mmol/L of mannitol＋20 μg/ml VES(cells were treated with 1 mmol/L of mannitol for 2 hours, then with 20 μg/ml VES for 24 hours) for 24 h MTT, single-cell gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry were used to detect the oxidative damage and apoptosis induced. The corresponding detection kits were used to measure the reactive oxygen species and glutathione content. RESULTS: 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 μg/ml of VES inhibited cell growth to different degrees. 20 μg/ml VES inhibited cell growth to the greatest degree of 76.91％. With increasing concentration of VES, apoptosis showed an upward trend. In single-cell gel electrophoresis, with increasing VES concentration, the comet tail length and the comet rate showed a rising trend. Compared with the negative control group, glutathione content of cells in 10 and 20 μg/ml VES groups were significantly decreased, while the active oxygen content were significantly increased. 1 mmol/L of mannitol could significantly reduce DNA damage and apoptosis caused by VES, while lowering the cell oxygen and glutathione contents significantly. CONCLUSION: VES could significantly inhibit SGC-7901 cell growth in a dose-depedent manner. Oxidative damage caused by increased oxygen content and glutathione depletion may be one of the mechanisms of apoptosis induced by VES.

Key words: Vitamin E succinate, SGC-7901 cells, reactive oxygen species, glutathione