Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of β-elemene in suppressing the proliferation and apoptosis of SGC7901 gastric
cancer cells in vitro and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods Using MTT assay, flow cytometry, and clonogenic
survival assay, we assessed the effects of β-elemene on the viability, apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and clonogenic survival
of gastric cancer SGC7901 cells and gastric mucosal epithelial GES-1 cells. Western blotting was employed to determine the
changes in the protein expression profiles in SGC7901 cells in response to β-elemene treatment. Results β-elemene significantly
suppressed the cell viability and increased the apoptosis of SGC7901 cells, and these effects were less obvious in GES-1 cells.
β-elemene decreased clonogenic survival of SGC7901 cells, increased the proportion of G2/M phase cells, decreased the
expression of Bcl-2, and increased the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3. β-elemene did not obviously affect the
expression of total p21-activated protein kinase 1 (Pak1) but decreased the level of phospho-Pak1 (Thr423) and phospho-ERK1/
2 (Thr202/Tyr204) in SGC7901 cells. Conclusion β-elemene inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of gastric cancer
cells possibly by inhibiting Pak1/ERK signaling and regulating apoptosis-associated proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bax.