ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on the growth and proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its effect on adenosine monophosphate activated pro-tein kinase (AMPK) activity.Methods Hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells cultured for 12,24,and 48 hours were treated with 200,300,and 400 mg/L concentration of astragalus polysaccharides.The cell inhibition rate was detected with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT),and apoptosis was observed under the fluorescence microscope.Western blot method was used to measure the expression of total AMPK,phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK),and phosphorylate mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) protein expressions.Results Astragalus polysaccharides of each concentration significantly inhibited the proliferation of human hepatoma HepG2 cells (P ＜ 0.01),and the effect of 300 mg/L concentration astragalus polysaccharides was more significant than that of the 200 mg/L concentration (P ＜0.01);while inhibitory effect of 400 and 300 mg/L Astragalus polysaccharides on the proliferation of human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was not significant difference.We found that Astragalus polysaccharides of each concentration could promote the apoptosis of HepG2 cells,and the effect of 300 mg/L Astragalus polysaccharides was more significant.However,astragalus polysaccharide of 400 mg/L concentration could promote the apoptosis no more than the 300 mg/L concentration,which was observed by fluorescent microscope.Western blot results showed that astragalus polysaccharides could increase the expression of p-AMPK (P ＜ 0.05),and inhibit its downstream protein expressions of p-mTOR (P ＜ 0.05).The proliferation effect of astragalus polysaccharides was weakened after accession of AMPK antagonist compound C on hepatocellular carcinoma cells.Conclusions APS can inhibit the growth and proliferation of hepatocarcinoma cells,and its mechanism is related to the AMPK-mTOR pathway.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo study androgen excess within ovarian granulosa cells of PCOS patients in vitro,and the partial improvement by using astragalus polysaccharides.MethodsOvarian granulosa cells from the PCOS patients during IVF / ICSI - ET were isolated and cultured in vitro,then it was treated by different concentrations of astragalus polysaccharides.The levels of estradiol,progesterone and testosterone were determined.ResultsAndrogen secretion within ovarian granulosa cells from PCOS patients was significantly increased [ ( 0.4716 ± 0.03 ) nmol/L,( 0.23 ± 0.0162 ) nmol/L,P ＜ 0.05 ].The levels of estradiol and progesterone were not significantly different( P ＞ 0.05 ).Different concentrations of astragalus polysaccharides may result from the alleviation of androgen secretion which was commonly found in PCOS treatment (concentration was 1000 μg/ml,100 μg/ml,50 μg/ml,P ＜ 0.01 ;concentration was 500 μg/ml,P =0.002 ; concentration was 200 μg/ml,P =0.003).ConclusionsAstragalus polysaccharides inhibit the secretion of testosterone in granulosa cells of PCOS patients during in vitro,and it may be an alternative treatment for PCOS.