Cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing properties of a C-steroidal glycoside isolated from the roots of .

The present study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effect of a C-steroidal glycoside (CG) isolated from the roots of . CG was able to inhibit the growth of human cancer cells (SGC-7901 cells) in a concentration and time-dependent manner . SGC-7901 cells exposed to CG (10.8 and 21.6 M) exhibited typical morphological apoptosis characteristics, such as nuclear-chromatin condensation and apoptotic body formation. Flow cytometric analysis showed that after treatment with CG at 10.8 and 21.6 M for 24 h, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased to 30.4 and 43.2%, respectively, while the number of cells in the G/G, S and G/M phases of the cell cycle decreased (P<0.05). Furthermore, treatment with CG at a concentration of 21.6 M for 24 h significantly increased the expression of caspase-3 and the activity of caspase-3 was increased ∼3-fold in SGC-7901 cells. These results suggest that CG is the active anticancer component of the total C-glycosides of the roots of which is able to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and induce cancer cell apoptosis through caspase-3-dependent pathways.