ABSTRACT
A steroidal saponin named pennogenin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1â2) [α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1â4)]-ß-D-glucoyranoside(TTB2) has been successfully separated from the n-BuOH extracts of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim and is able to induce cytotoxicity to some types cancer cells. The present study aimed to investigate how this novel saponinin duces cytotoxicity in malignant sarcoma cells and to clarify its molecular mechanisms of action. It was determined this steroidal saponin induced the apoptosis in Rh1 cells and activated caspase-3 and caspase-9. Additionally, it disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential and altered the expression of bax and bcl-2. Thus, the results of present study identified that an anticancer saponin isolated from Trillium tschonoskii Maxim may be developed as a potential novel therapeutic strategy to treat certain types of cancer, including lung cancer and lung sarcoma.
ABSTRACT
Phytoestrogen has previously been proposed as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Hispolon has been found to have phytoestrogenic properties. However, the possible effects of hispolon on estrogen receptors and other related molecules remain to be determined. This study was performed mainly to confirm the estrogenic function of hispolon as it relates to estrogen receptors, aromatase, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). Hispolon was shown to increase the serum 17ß-estradiol in vivo. Immunohistochemical staining methods showed that hispolon exhibited a biphasic effect on ERα/ß and aromatase expression in MCF-7 cells. Hispolon could also significantly inhibit aromatase activity, assessed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blotting showed that COX-2 and aromatase could be inhibited by hispolon. These results further prove the phytoestrogenic features of hispolon and explore some pharmacological mechanisms that suggest that hispolon could be useful in the treatment of breast cancers or other gynecologic diseases.
