Salidroside could enhance the cytotoxic effect of L‑OHP on colorectal cancer cells.

Evidence has suggested that salidroside inhibits the proliferation and invasion of renal clear cell, lung, breast, and colon cancer. However, effect of salidroside on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells against oxaliplatin (L‑OHP) resistance remains unclear. In the present study, the CRC HT‑29 cell line and L‑OHP resistance HT‑29/L‑OHP cell line were used to evaluate the effect, and mechanism of salidroside on L‑OHP resistance. The results demonstrated that the activity of HT‑29 cells was lower compared with that of HT‑29/L‑OHP cells following L‑OHP intervention, and was accompanied with varied expression levels of drug resistant proteins. The combination of salidroside and L‑OHP weakened cell activity significantly compared single utilization. Compared with the control group, salidroside intervention resulted in a higher percentage of HT‑29/L‑OHP cells in the G0/G1 stage, and reduced percentage in the G2/M stage, but no significant variation in the S stage. The HT‑29/L‑OHP cells exhibited increased apoptosis rates and caspase‑3 activity, but decreased metastatic, and invasive abilities following salidroside intervention. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis detected variations in the expression levels of associated genes in HT‑29/L‑OHP cells following salidroside intervention. In all, the results of the present study revealed that salidroside is able to decrease the activity and invasive capacity of HT‑29/L‑OHP cells, and treatment with salidroside is associated with increased apoptosis of cancer cells through the regulation of certain genes.