OBJECTIVE: Dracorhodin perchlorate (DP) was a synthetic analogue of the 
antimicrobial anthocyanin red pigment dracorhodin. It was reported that DP could 
induce apoptosis in human prostate cancer, human gastric tumor cells and human 
melanoma, but the cytotoxic effect of DP on human breast cancer was not 
investigated. This study would investigate whether DP was a candidate chemical 
of anti-human breast cancer.
METHODS: The MTT assay reflected the number of viable cells through measuring 
the activity of cellular enzymes. Phase contrast microscopy visualized cell 
morphology. Fluorescence microscopy detected nuclear fragmentation after Hoechst 
33258 staining. Flowcytometric analysis of Annexin V-PI staining and Rodamine 
123 staining was used to detect cell apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane 
potential (MMP). Real time PCR detected mRNA level. Western blot examined 
protein expression.
RESULTS: DP dose and time-dependently inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells. DP 
inhibited MCF-7 cell growth through apoptosis. DP regulated the expression of 
Bcl-2 and Bax, which were mitochondrial pathway proteins, to decrease MMP, and 
DP promoted the transcription of Bax and inhibited Bcl-2. Apoptosis-inducing 
factor (AIF) and cytochrome c which localized in mitochondrial in physiological 
condition were released into cytoplasm when MMP was decreased. DP activated 
caspase-9, which was the downstream of mitochondrial pathway. Therefore DP 
decreased MMP to release AIF and cytochrome c into cytoplasm, further activating 
caspase 9, lastly led to apoptosis.
CONCLUSION: Therefore DP was a candidate for anti-breast cancer, DP induced 
apoptosis of MCF-7 through mitochondrial pathway.