Saikosaponin d induces cell death through caspase-3-dependent caspase-3-independent and mitochondrial pathways in mammalian hepatic stellate cells

摘要

BackgroundSaikosaponin d (SSd) is one of the main active triterpene saponins in Bupleurum falcatum. It has a steroid-like structure, and is reported to have pharmacological activities, including liver protection in rat, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction in several cancer cell lines. However, the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of mammalian cells under SSd treatment are still unclear.