The Effect of Cycloartane-Type of Saponins from Astragalus Species on the Proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells

OBJECTIVE Saponins are the main components of Astragalus species. In this study, different doses of saponins ob-tained from Astragalus species were applied to MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, and the cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, and apoptotic effects were investigated.METHODS Five different cycloartane-type saponins (Astragaloside IV, Cyclocanthoside E, Astrasieversianin X, Macrophylosaponins B and D) were incubated with MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells for 24, 48, and 72 h. Cell cytotoxicity activity of saponins on cell lines was determined by cell counting kit 8. For apoptosis analysis, TUNEL Assay Kit was used. RESULTS Significant changes in cytotoxicity were obtained at concentrations of 10 & mu;M, 100 & mu;M and 200 & mu;M for 24 h, at concentrations of 100 & mu;M and 150 & mu;M for 48 h, and at concentrations of 10 & mu;M and 100 & mu;M for 72 h in the MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. In MCF-7 cells, no significant changes in the cell cytotoxicity were obtained between the control and administered concentrations for 24 h but significant changes were obtained at all concentrations (10 & mu;M, 100 & mu;M, 150 & mu;M, 200 & mu;M) for 48 h and at concentration of 100 & mu;M for 72 h. There was a significant change in the apoptosis analysis for the MCF-7 cells at concen-trations of 10 & mu;M and 100 & mu;M for 48 h. CONCLUSION All in all, this study suggests that low-dose saponin glycosides decreased cell viability of breast cancer cell and increased apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.