Abstract: To explore the in vitro antitumor activity of Cercidiphyllum japonicum oil.Human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells were used as test cell strains.The in vitro antitumor activities of Cercidiphyllum japonicum oil were evaluated by MTT,flow cytometry,JC-1 and Western blot.The results showed that the survival rate of SMMC-7721 cells could be decreased after treatment with Cercidiphyllum japonicum oil for 24 hours;the proportion of G₀/G₁ phase in cells decreased the proportion of G₂/M phase increased;the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased;autophagy-related protein LC3- II,Beclin-1 expression increased.After adding the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine,LC3-II and Bcl-2 expression decreased.In summary,the Cercidiphyllum japonicum oil can inhibit the proliferation activity of SMMC-7721 cells,inhibit cell division by blocking G₂/M phase,and induce apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential.Autophagy exists as a protective mechanism in the apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells.

Key words: Cercidiphyllum japonicum oil, anti-tumor, apoptosis, autophagy