title: Induction of differentiation in rat C6 glioma cells with Saikosaponins.
abstract: The effects of saikosaponins (a, b(1), b(2), c, d), isolated from Bupleurum Radix, on the induction of differentiation in rat C6 glioma cells were studied. Saikosaponins a and d were shown to inhibit cell proliferation and alter cell morphology. In addition to cytostasis, the enzymatic activities of glutamine synthetase (GS) and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (CNP) were also noticeably increased after treatment with saikosaponin a. Nevertheless, saikosaponin d only showed an increase of GS activity, no significant changes in CNP activity were found. These results suggest that saikosaponin a can induce the differentiation of C6 glioma cells into astrocytes and/or oligodendrocytes, but saikosaponin d can only induce the differentiation of C6 glioma cells into astrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medical Research, Taipei Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Yan-Jyu
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: I-Ling
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lin-Yea
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Horng
authors.forename: Rong-Tsun
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D063309:2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029972:Bupleurum; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005910:Glioma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D012502:Sapogenins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012503:Saponins; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012502:Sapogenins; D012503:Saponins; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D063309:2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase; C571339:Cnp protein, rat; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase; C025759:saikosaponin D