Steroidal Saponin Ypsilandra thibetica Induces Apoptosis in Colorectal Carcinoma Cells through the Mitochondrion-Dependent Reactive Oxygen Species Pathway

摘要

The whole plant of Ypsilandra thibetica Franch, a perennial herb, has the officinal functions in heat-clearing, detoxifying and relieving congeation. YB16, one of the steroidal saponin in Y. thibetic, exerts anticancer activity in prostate cancer and lung cancer. However, the bioactivity and underlying mechanisms of YB16 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) are not understood. In the present study, by MTT, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential levels and intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays, YB16 inhibited the proliferation of cells and induced apoptosis in CRC HCT116 and HCT8 cells. Meanwhile, YB16 provoked mitochondrial membrane potential depolarizing in a concentration-dependent manner. Further analysis showed that YB16 induced apoptosis via stimulating the production of intercellular ROS and the antioxidant NAC reversed the apoptosis in HCT116 and HCT8 after YB16 treatment. These datas demonstrated that YB16 induced the apoptosis in CRC cell lines via mitochondrial-dependent ROS pathway and YB16 might be a potential anticancer drug to CRC.