The apoptotic effect of sarsasapogenin from Anemarrhena asphodeloides on HepG2 human hepatoma cells

Sarsasapogenin, a kind of mainly effective components of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (Liliaceae) has the effects of being anti-diabetes and improving memory. However, there are few reports focusing on its anti-tumor effects. In this study, the sarsasapogenin was extracted from rhizomes of A. asphodeloides Bunge and applied to inhibit HepG2 human hepatoma cells. MTT assay showed that sarsasapogenin induced a distinct dose- and time-dependent diminution of cell viability with IC50 of 42.4 ± 1.0 μg/ml for 48 h. Furthermore, sarsasapogenin-induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells was verified by Hoechst 33258 staining, electron microscopy, DNA fragmentation and PI staining. Flow cytometry analysis showed that sarsasapogenin-induced cell apoptosis was through arrest of cell cycle in G2/M phase. Hence we proposed that sarsasapogenin could be used as an anti-liver cancer drug for future studies.