title: Saikosaponin-A induces apoptotic mechanism in human breast MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cancer cells.
abstract: The effects of Saikosaponin-A on human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) were investigated. Results demonstrated that Saikosaponin-A inhibited the proliferation or viability of the MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Saikosaponin-A treatment of MDA-MB-231 for 3 hours and of MCF-7 cells for 2 hours, respectively caused an obvious increase in the sub-G1 population of cell cycles. Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells was independent of the P53/p21 pathway mechanism and was accompanied by an increased ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 and c-myc levels and activation of caspase-3. In contrast, apoptosis of MCF-7 cells may have been initiated by the Bcl-2 family of proteins and involved p53/p21 dependent pathway mechanism, and was accompanied by an increased level of c-myc protein. Both the apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells and MCF-7 cells showed a difference worthy of further research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chinese Medicine, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan. jcmt22@ms38.hinet.net
authors.forename: Jung-Chou
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Nai-Wen
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jing-Gung
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Kuei-Chu
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000187:drug effects; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000187:drug effects; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000187:drug effects; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C494826:BAX protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012503:Saponins; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D019833:Genistein; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; C025759:saikosaponin D