Saponin B, a novel cytostatic compound purified from Anemone taipaiensis, induces apoptosis in a human glioblastoma cell line

Wang,Yuangang; Tang,Haifeng; Zhang,Yun; Li,Juan; Li,Bo; Gao,Zhenhui; Wang,Xiaoyang; Cheng,Guang; Fei,Zhou

doi:10.3892/ijmm.2013.1500

Saponin B, a novel cytostatic compound purified from Anemone taipaiensis, induces apoptosis in a human glioblastoma cell line

Authors:
- Yuangang Wang
- Haifeng Tang
- Yun Zhang
- Juan Li
- Bo Li
- Zhenhui Gao
- Xiaoyang Wang
- Guang Cheng
- Zhou Fei
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Affiliations: Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shannxi, P.R. China, Department of Pharmacology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shannxi, P.R. China, Department of Immunology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shannxi, P.R. China
Published online on: September 18, 2013 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2013.1500
Pages: 1077-1084

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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.

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