title: Anti-proliferation and apoptosis induced by a novel intestinal metabolite of ginseng saponin in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
abstract: 20-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol (IH-901), a novel intestinal bacterial metabolite of ginseng protopanaxadiol saponins, is reported to induce apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. We purified the compound and measured its in vitro anti-tumor activity. IH-901 inhibited cell growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC7721 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. We also found that IH-901 induced apoptotic cell death concurrent with cell cycle arrest in G0-G1 phase in SMMC7721 cells. At the molecular level, we show that IH-901 upregulates cytochrome c, p53, and Bax expression, and downregulates pro-caspase-3 and pro-caspase-9 expressions in a dose-dependent manner, while the levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) were unchanged in IH-901-treated SMMC7721 cells. These results provide significant insight into the anticarcinogenic action of IH-901.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Cell Biology and Tumor Cell Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China.
authors.forename: Yan-lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Liang-hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Zhong-yan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Gao-liang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: Qing-xuan
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012502:Sapogenins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C482402:20-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol; C494826:BAX protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012502:Sapogenins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D045304:Cytochromes c; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases