title: Taccaoside induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.
abstract: Objective Taccaoside, a steroidal saponin, has been shown to be cytotoxic, although the mechanism of cytotoxicity remains unclear. This study examined the effect of taccaoside on the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines SMMC-7721 and Bel-7404. Methods The antiproliferative effect of taccaoside were measured using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cells were stained with Hoechst 33258 to observe morphology. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analysed by flow cytometry. Caspase activation was detected using specific assays, and PARP, Bax and Bcl-2 expression were analysed using western blotting. Results Taccaoside showed antiproliferative effect on HCC cell lines growth in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Taccaoside arrested cell cycle in the G2/M phase and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. Western blotting indicated that taccaoside upregulated Bax expression and downregulated Bcl-2 expression. PARP cleavage was observed following taccaoside treatment. Conclusions This study showed that taccaoside may inhibit HCC cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Yuewen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Hanchen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Mingchun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Runli
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D027743:Dioscoreaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D059565:G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D059748:Proteolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013256:Steroids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C494826:BAX protein, human; C000595707:BCL2 protein, human; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012503:Saponins; D013256:Steroids; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C517436:taccaoside C; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8
keywords: Apoptosis; hepatocellular carcinoma; steroidal saponin; taccaoside