Abstract: Objective: To determine the effects of oxymatrine on the proliferation of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma Colo-16 cell and the expression level of EGFR. Methods: The Colo-16 cells were cultured, and then were divided into the blank control group, 5% glucose solvents control group and different concentration of oxymatrine groups (0.025 mg/mL, 0.05 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL). The proliferative activity of Colo-16 cell and the expression level of EGFR and phosphorylate EGFR were detected by MTT and Western blot respectively. Results: The optical density in the different concentration of oxymatrine were lower than those in the blank control group and 5% glucose solvents control group at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, with significant differences (P＜0.05). However, there was no significant difference of optical density between the different concentration of oxymatrine groups (P＞0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of EGFR and phosphorylate EGFR between all the groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion: Oxymatrine can inhibit the proliferative activity of Colo-16 cell at lower concentration, in a non-concentration-dependent manner. Therefore, the effect of oxymatrine on the proliferative activity is not through inhibition of the expression of EGFR.

Key words: Oxymatrine, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, proliferation, EGFR