Objective: To investigate the effect of saponin 6 of Anemone Taipaiensis on the proliferation of human U87 MG glioma cells and the possible mechanism.
Methods: U87 MG cells were treated with different concentrations of saponin 6 (0.0, 1.6, 3.2, 6.4, 12.8 μg/mL) for 24 hours or 48 hours. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay; the apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry combined with annexin V-FITC /PI staining; Western blotting was applied to determine the protein level of activated caspase-3.
Results: Compared with control groups, saponin 6 significantly inhibited U87 MG cell proliferation in a time- and dose-depended manner. Apoptosis rate of U87 MG cells and the expression of activated caspase-3 were raised with the increasing concentration of saponin 6.
Conclusion: Saponin 6 of Anemone Taipaiensis could depress cell proliferation in a dose-depended manner, increase the expression of activated caspase-3 and promote apoptosis in U87 MG cells.