A synergistic antitumor effect of polyphyllin I and formosanin C on hepatocarcinoma cells.
Polyphyllin I (PPI) and formosanin C (FC) were regarded as effective and imperative components isolated from Rhizoma Paridis saponins (RPS) and exhibited strong anti-tumor effects on a variety of cancers. With the wide application of complex mixtures in clinics, synergistic interactions are of vital importance in phytomedicine. Therefore, it is of inherent importance to study whether there is a synergistic anti-tumor effect on PPI and FC from one herb. In this study, the viability was detected by MTT assay. The combination index (CI) analysis was used to assess their synergistic effect. Consequently, there was a synergistic anti-tumor effect between PPI and FC at a ratio of 1:1. The CI value was less than 1.0. Their combination significantly increased their single G1 phase arrest and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway. Meanwhile, PPI and FC reduced the ability of cell migration. In conclusion, polyphyllin I and formosanin C showed a synergistic anti-tumor effect on hepatocarcinoma cells. The findings would provide the foundation for the use of RPS in the future.
Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Ministry of Education, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
Jing
J
Liu
Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Ministry of Education, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China. Electronic address: msl@tust.edu.cn.
Shuli
S
Man
Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Ministry of Education, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
Zhen
Z
Liu
Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Ministry of Education, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
Long
L
Ma
Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery and High Efficiency, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China. Electronic address: biochemgao@163.com.
Wenyuan
W
Gao
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D004144:Diosgenin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012503:Saponins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D012503:Saponins; C556217:polyphyllin I; C067584:formosanin C; D004144:Diosgenin
Apoptosis; Cell cycle arrest; Cell migration; Formosanin C; Polyphyllin I; Synergistic