title: Cytotoxicity of the saponin TTB2 on Ewing sarcoma cells.
abstract: The steroidal saponin TTB2 can be isolated from then-BuOH extracts ofTrillium tschonoskiiMaxim. The aim of the present study was to observe whether this saponin exerted any cytotoxic effects on malignant sarcoma cells, and to further investigate the possible underlying molecular mechanisms. The cell viability, cell cycle arrest and phosphorylation of certain important signal molecules in the sarcoma cell line were investigated. It was found that TTB2 inhibited the growth of the Ewing sarcoma cell line and arrested cells in the G2/M and S phases of the cell cycle in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase was inhibited by TTB2. In conclusion, the results showed that the saponin TTB2 isolated fromT. tschonoskiiMaxim exerts anticancer effects and may be a potential candidate for the development of anticancer drugs for use in the treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wenfeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zou
keywords: anticancer; cell cycle; chemotherapy; extracellular signal-regulated kinase; steroidal saponin