Studies on effect of saponins of asparagus on tumor cell apoptosis and its mechanisms of action

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the pro-apoptosis effect of saponins of asparagus on human gastric adenoma cells SGC-7901 and its mechanism. Methods: SGC-7901 was treated with different concentrations of saponins of asparagus. MTT assay was used to evaluate the influence of saponins of asparagus on cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to test reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, intracellular mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψm), and hypodiploid apoptosis peak in both SGC-7901. Results: saponins of asparagus obviously inhibited proliferation of SGC-7901 cells. When treated with 0, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 μg /mL of saponins of asparagus for 24 h, intracellular ROS levels of SGC-7901 were (1.6±0.5)%, (2.0±0.3)%, (5.5±0.4)%, (25.8±1.4)%, (83.7±1.2)% and (97.4±4.2)%, respectively; and Δψm were (98.6±4.3)%, (98.4±4.8)%, (95.7±5.4)%, (92.6±4.0)%, (74.0±5.6)% and (63.7±4.0)%, respectively; when treated with 0, 60, 120, 240 μg /mL of saponins of asparagus for 48 h, cell apoptotic rates of SGC-7901 were (4.3±1.6)%, (9.1±3.8)%, (20.1±4.2)% and (55.4±4.9)%, respectively. Conclusions: saponins of asparagus generates ROS in both SGC-7901, which causes mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and Δψm decrease, therefore, leads to apoptosis. © 2008 Springer-Verlag.