苦參堿能呈劑量相關(guān)地抑制乳腺癌MCF-7細(xì)胞、Bcap-37細(xì)胞、MA737細(xì)胞、Walker256細(xì)胞、TM40D細(xì)胞、4T1細(xì)胞、SK-BR-3細(xì)胞、MDA-MB-231細(xì)胞，以及卵巢癌NuTu19細(xì)胞、SKOV3細(xì)胞、A21-2細(xì)胞、OV2008細(xì)胞、HO-8910PM細(xì)胞、PA-1細(xì)胞、PM-2細(xì)胞、3AO細(xì)胞、OVCAR3細(xì)胞生長(zhǎng)并誘導(dǎo)凋亡。苦參堿是這些癌細(xì)胞的自噬早期誘導(dǎo)劑，更是自噬晚期抑制劑，通過(guò)誘導(dǎo)線粒體凋亡和內(nèi)質(zhì)網(wǎng)應(yīng)激的2個(gè)途徑引起癌細(xì)胞凋亡的，因而能提高癌細(xì)胞對(duì)放、化療的敏感性。苦參堿增強(qiáng)機(jī)體的免疫調(diào)節(jié)功能也是其抗癌作用機(jī)制的一部分，并能對(duì)抗放化療抑制免疫的毒副作用發(fā)生。

Matrine inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in association with dosage on mammary cancer MCF-7 cells, Bcap-37 cells, MA737 cells, Walker 256 cells, TM40D cells, 4T1 cells, SK-BR-3 cells, MDA-MB-231 cells, and ovarian carcinoma NuTu19 cells, SKOV3 cells, A21-2 cells, OV2008 cells, HO-8910PM cells, PA-1 cells, PM-2 cells, 3AO cells, OVCAR3 cells. Matrine is a inducer of early stage of autophagy, and is more a inhibitor of late stage of autophagy. Matrine induces the apoptosis of these cancer cells by two pathways of mitochondria apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Matrine enhances sensitivity of cancer cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The immunoenhancement of matrine is its mechanism of antitumor too, and can antagonize occurrence of immunodepression in radiotherapy and chemotherapy.