Cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing properties of a C(21)-steroidal glycoside isolated from the roots of Cynanchum auriculatum

The present study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effect of a C(21)-steroidal glycoside (CG) isolated from the roots of Cynanchum auriculatum. CG was able to inhibit the growth of human cancer cells (SGC-7901 cells) in a concentration and time-dependent manner in vitro. SGC-7901 cells exposed to CG (10.8 and 21.6 μM) 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 μM for 24 h, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased to 30.4 and 43.2%, respectively, while the number of cells in the G(0)/G(1), S and G(2)/M phases of the cell cycle decreased (P<0.05). Furthermore, treatment with CG at a concentration of 21.6 μM 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(21)-glycosides of the roots of Cynanchum auriculatum which is able to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and induce cancer cell apoptosis through caspase-3-dependent pathways.