Astragaloside IV Induces Apoptosis, G<sub>1</sub>-Phase Arrest and Inhibits Anti-apoptotic Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
CHUN-MIN SU, Hsiao-Chia Wang, Fei‐Ting Hsu, CHUN-HUI LU, CHIEN-KAI LAI, Jing‐Gung Chung, Yu-Cheng Kuo
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the liver and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Although multiple chemotherapies options are available for HCC, chemo-induced toxicity is inevitable during clinical treatment. Therefore, identifying possible adjuvant agents with both liver-protective and antitumor effects is critical. Herbal medicines have chemopreventive and anti-HCC effect, such as Juzen taiho-to and Sho-saiko-to. Astragaloside IV is a compound extracted from the Chinese medical herb Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. with liver protection potential. However, whether astragaloside IV may also possess tumor-inhibitory capability and its underlying mechanism is remaining unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Viability analysis, cell-cycle analysis, apoptosis analysis, western blotting analysis and invasion trans-well assay were performed to identify tumor-inhibitory potential of astragaloside IV on HCC cells (SK-Hep1 and Hep3B cells). RESULTS: arrest in HCC cells. The expression of anti-apoptotic proteins of HCC were all reduced by astragaloside IV. Additionally, astragaloside IV also suppressed HCC cell invasion ability. CONCLUSION: Astragaloside IV effectively suppressed HCC cell proliferation, invasion and anti-apoptosis in vitro.