Planta Med 2009; 75(15): 1580-1585
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185838
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Escin, a Natural Mixture of Triterpene Saponins, Exhibits Antitumor Activity Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Xue-ying Zhou1 , 2 , Feng-hua Fu2 , Zhen Li2 , Qiu-ju Dong2 , Jie He2 , Chang-hai Wang1 , 3
  • 1School of Environmental & Biological Science & Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, P. R. China
  • 2School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, P. R. China
  • 3School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai, P. R. China
Further Information

Publication History

received April 3, 2009 revised April 16, 2009

accepted June 2, 2009

Publication Date:
03 July 2009 (online)

Abstract

Escin, a mixture of triterpene saponins extracted from Aesculus wilsonii Rehd., was used to analyze the antitumor effect in hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo and in vitro. At a dose of 2.8 mg/kg, escin had a rather high inhibition ratio (43.5 %) on mice H22 tumor growth in vivo. The results of the SRB cell viability assay showed that escin could induce significant concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of HepG2 cell viability. Disruption of the G1/S phase of cell cycle progression accompanied by the induction of apoptosis were also observed in HepG2 cells following escin treatment. The results of pulse-field gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis show the induction of caspase-independent apoptosis by escin. This study provides evidence that escin induces cell cycle checkpoint arrest and caspase-independent cell death in HepG2 cells, in support of its efficacious potential as a chemopreventive agent.

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Prof. Dr. Chang-Hai Wang

School of Environmental & Biological Science & Technology
Dalian University of Technology

Linggong

Dalian 116024

People's Republic of China

Phone: + 86 53 56 90 62 88

Fax: + 86 53 56 90 62 88

Email: chwang2001@sina.com