Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of luteolin (Luteolin, Lut) on apoptosis and autophagy in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma Tca8113 cells in vitro. Methods MTT assay was used to observe the effects of (12.5, 25, 50, 100 μmol/L) Lut on cell activity in vitro after 24 hours. Heochst33342 and flow synectometry were used to observed cell apoptosis. Western blotting revealed changes in the protein expression of Cleaved Caspase-3, b-lymphocytoma-2 (Bcl-2), b-lymphocytoma-2-related X protein (Bax), and Beclin1, P62 and LC3B proteins. Results MTT assay results showed that Lut significantly inhibited the proliferation of Tca8113 cells with IC50 of 47 mol/L. Hoechst33342 staining showed that Lut could change the morphology of Tca8113 cells, which was positively correlated with time. Annexin V/PI double staining results showed that the apoptosis rate of Tca8113 cells treated with 47 mol/L Lut for 12h and 24h was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Western Bloting showed that Lut inhibited Bcl-2 and increased Bax expression, leading to increasimg Cleaved Caspase-3 expression and promoting Tca8113 cell apoptosis (P < 0.05). Beclin1, LC3B and P62 protein levels were also increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion Apoptosis and autophagy of tongue cancer cell line Tca8113 may be caused by Luteolin.