title: Saponins extracted from by-product of Asparagus officinalis L. suppress tumour cell migration and invasion through targeting Rho GTPase signalling pathway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The inedible bottom part (~30-40%) of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) spears is usually discarded as waste. However, since this by-product has been reported to be rich in many bioactive phytochemicals, it might be utilisable as a supplement in foods or natural drugs for its therapeutic effects. In this study it was identifed that saponins from old stems of asparagus (SSA) exerted potential inhibitory activity on tumour growth and metastasis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SSA suppressed cell viability of breast, colon and pancreatic cancers in a concentration-dependent manner, with half-maximum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 809.42 to 1829.96 µg mL(-1). However, SSA was more functional in blocking cell migration and invasion as compared with its cytotoxic effect, with an effective inhibitory concentration of 400 µg mL(-1). A mechanistic study showed that SSA markedly increased the activities of Cdc42 and Rac1 and decreased the activity of RhoA in cancer cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSA inhibits tumour cell motility through modulating the Rho GTPase signalling pathway, suggesting a promising use of SSA as a supplement in healthcare foods and natural drugs for cancer prevention and treatment.
authors: School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
authors: Jieqiong
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Yali
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Jingjing
authors: J
authors: Zhao
authors: Wen
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: Xiufeng
authors: X
authors: Pang
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027761:Asparagus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; C107953:RAC1 protein, human; D012503:Saponins; C066737:RHOA protein, human; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein
keywords: Asparagus officinalis L; Rho GTPase; cancer; saponin