Abstract: Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of foodborne procyanidins on the growth of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, and to elucidate its mechanism. Methods: The SH-SY5Y cells were cultured and divided into control group, 10 mg·L^-1 foodborne procyanidins group, 20 mg·L^-1 foodborne procyanidins group and 40 mg·L^-1 foodborne procyanidins group;the medium containing different concentrations (0, 10, 20 and 40 mg·L^-1) of foodborne procyanidins was added into each group. The proliferation rates of SH-SY5Y cells were measured by MTT method at 24, 48 and 72 h after the drug treatment. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle of SH-SY5Y cells at 72 h after the drug treatment, and the apoptotic rate of SH-SY5Y cells was detected by Annexin Ⅴ apoptotic assay kit at 72 h after the drug treatment. Results: Compared with control group, the proliferation rates of SH-SY5Y cells at 24, 48 and 72 h in 10, 20 and 40 mg·L^-1 foodborne procyanidins groups were decreased; there were significant differences at 48 and 72 hours in 20 mg·L^-1 foodborne procyanidins group (P<0.05 or P<0.01);there were also significant differences at 24, 48 and 72 h in 40 mg·L^-1 foodborne procyanidins group (P<0.01). Compared with control group, the percentage of cells in G₀/G₁ phase in 40 mg·L^-1 foodborne procyanidins group were increased(P<0.01) and the percentage of cells in G₂/M phase were decreased (P<0.01). Compared with control group, the apoptotic rates of cells in 10, 20 and 40 mg·L^-1 foodborne procyanidins groups were increased significantly (P<0.01). Conclusion: Foodborne procyanidins can inhibit the growth of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, and its mechanism is mainly to block the cell cycle and induce the apoptosis.

Key words: foodborne procyanidins, SH-SY5Y cells, cell cycle, apoptosis