Saikosaponin b2 Induces Differentiation without Growth Inhibition in Cultured B16 Melanoma Cells.

Abstract

ABSTRACT.Treatment with 5 pM of saikosaponin (SS) b2 for 30 days was found to induce differentiation of B16 melanomacells, with potentiation of expressions of melanogenesis and tyrosinase. To explore the mechanism of this effect, we observed the cell growth, cell cycle and morphology, and found that SSb2 did not affect any of these parameters. That is, SSb2 induced the differentiation of B16 melanoma cells without growth inhibition or cytotoxicity under conditions of low dose and long-term treatment. Phorbol ester, a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, markedly inhibited the expressions of melanogenesis and tyrosinase in both the control B16 melanoma cells and the long-term treated B16 melanoma cells. Down-regulation of the PKCactivity may be involved in the effects of SSb2.

Saikosaponin C induces endothelial cells growth, migration and capillary tube formation

“…Sc: saikosaponin C. **P b 0.01, *P b 0.05 vs. control by t-test, n = 3 per group. Chou et al, 2003;Okita et al, 1993;Wu and Hsu, 2001;Wu, 2003;Tsai et al, 2002;Zong et al, 1998;Zong et al, 1996), but saikosaponin C had no relation with cancer cells growth inhibition (Okita et al, 1993). In our study, we found that saikosaponin C induced endothelial cells growth, migration and capillary tube formation, the opposite effect for cancer prevention.…”

“…However, saikosaponin C contains a trisaccharide of glucose-glucose-rhamnose. Recently, saikosaponins, including saikosaponin A, B2 and D, were reported to have properties of cell growth inhibition, inducing cancer cells differentiation and apoptosis (Hsu et al, 2004;Chen et al, 2003;Chou et al, 2003;Okita et al, 1993;Wu and Hsu, 2001;Wu, 2003;Tsai et al, 2002;Zong et al, 1998;Zong et al, 1996). However, saikosaponin C had no correlation with cell growth inhibition (Okita et al, 1993).…”

Saikosaponins: a potential treatment option for systemic lupus erythematosus

“…The anti-inflammatory properties of saikosaponins have been revealed by their inhibition of mouse ear and paw edema induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in vivo, reduction of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) production in vitro [8,9].The immunoregulatory functions of saikosaponins also include the elevation of plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and corticosterone levels in vivo [10], enhancement of antibacterial plaque-forming cell responses [11], activation of phagocytosis of macrophages [12,13], and inhibition of platelet activation and endothelial cell injury [14]. In fact, apart from the immunoregulatory functions of Saikosaponins, the cytotoxic potential of saikosaponins is also reported in the literature and hence they have been investigated as potential anti-cancer agents [15][16][17][18].…”

Separation of triterpenoid saponins from the root of Bupleurum falcatum by counter current chromatography: The relationship between the partition coefficients and solvent system composition

“…Many studies have reported the presence of various bioactive components in its roots, such as triterpenoid glycosides (saikosaponins), polysaccharides, flavonoid glycosides, phenethyl alcohol glycosides, and isopentenol glycosides . Many phytochemical studies have demonstrated that triterpenoid glycosides (saikosaponins) are a major component of the roots of B. falcatum , which possess various pharmacological activities, including anti‐inflammatory, antihepatitis, and anti‐cancer properties . Thus far, the detection of 20 saponins from the roots of B. falcatum has been reported.…”