Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of rosmarinic acid on the apoptosis and migration of HeLa cells in human cervical cancer, and the role of autophagy. Methods: HeLa cells were treated with different concentrations of rosmarinic acid (0, 20, 40, 80 μmol/L) for 48 h. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and migration was detected by transwell. The expression of autophagy marker proteins LC3 and Beclin-1 was detected by Western blotting. Cervical cancer and normal cervical samples were collected and the expression of LC3 and Beclin-1 in the tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: Different concentrations of rosmarinic acid could induce HeLa cell apoptosis (F=241.70, P＜0.05), inhibit cell migration (F=77.63, P＜0.05), and up-regulate the expression of LC3 and Beclin-1 (LC3: F=240.83, P＜0.05; Beclin-1: F=154.72, P＜0.05). The above effects of rosmarinic acid were enhanced with the increase of its concentration. The expression of LC3 and Beclin-1 in cervical cancer tissues was significantly lower than that in the control group , and the difference was statistically significant (LC3: t=28.00, P＜0.05; Beclin-1: t=19.99, P＜0.05). Conclusions: Autophagy disorder is related to the occurrence of cervical cancer. Rosmarinic acid can up-regulate the autophagy of HeLa cells of cervical cancer, induce apoptosis and inhibit cell migration, suggesting that the effect of rosmarinic acid on HeLa cells may be related to its regulation of autophagy.

Key words: Rosmarinic acid, Cinnamic acid, Uterine cervical neoplasms, Autophagy, HeLa cells;, Apoptosis;, Cell movement