title: Saponin B, a novel cytostatic compound purified from Anemone taipaiensis, induces apoptosis in a human glioblastoma cell line.
abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common malignant brain tumors. Saponin B, a novel compound isolated from the medicinal plant, Anemone taipaiensis, has been found to have a strong time- and dose-dependent cytostatic effect on human glioma cells and to suppress the growth of U87MG GBM cells. In this study, we investigated whether saponin B induces the apoptosis of glioblastoma cells and examined the underlying mechanism(s) of action of saponin B. Saponin B signiﬁcantly suppressed U87MG cell proliferation. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA in the U87MG cells conﬁrmed that saponin B blocked the cell cycle at the S phase. Furthermore, treatment of the U87MG cells with saponin B induced chromatin condensation and led to the formation of apoptotic bodies, as observed under a ﬂuorescence microscope, and Annexin V/PI assay further suggested that phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization was apparent at higher drug concentrations. Treatment with saponin B activated the receptor-mediated pathway of apoptosis, as western blot analysis revealed the activation of Fas-l. Saponin B increased the Bax and caspase-3 ratio and decreased the protein expression of Bcl-2. The results from the present study demonstrate that the novel compound, saponin B, effectively induces the apoptosis of GBM cells and inhibits glioma cell growth and survival. Therefore, saponin B may be a potential candidate for the development of novel cancer therapeutics with antitumor activity against gliomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shannxi, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuangang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhenhui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Xiaoyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fei
mesh_terms: D031883:Anemone / Q000737:chemistry*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012503:Saponins