Original Article
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2010; 16(27): 3371-3376
Published online Jul 21, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i27.3371
Effect of soy saponin on the growth of human colon cancer cells
Cheng-Yu Tsai, Yue-Hwa Chen, Yi-Wen Chien, Wen-Hsuan Huang, Shyh-Hsiang Lin
Cheng-Yu Tsai, Yue-Hwa Chen, Yi-Wen Chien, Wen-Hsuan Huang, Shyh-Hsiang Lin, School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan, China
Author contributions: Tsai CY performed the majority of experiments; Chen YH and Chien YW provided the analytical tools; Huang WH performed some parts of the experiments; Lin SH designed the study and wrote the manuscript.
Supported by National Scientific Council Scientific Project Grant, No. 94-2313-B-038-003
Correspondence to: Dr. Shyh-Hsiang Lin, School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan, China. lin5611@tmu.edu.tw
Telephone: +886-2-27361661 Fax: +886-2-27373112
Received: January 26, 2010
Revised: April 10, 2010
Accepted: April 17, 2010
Published online: July 21, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of extracted soybean saponins on the growth of human colon cancer cells.

METHODS: WiDr human colon cancer cells were treated with 150, 300, 600 or 1200 ppm of soy saponin to determine the effect on cell growth, cell morphology, alkaline phosphatase (AP) and protein kinase C (PKC) activities, and P53 protein, c-Fos and c-Jun gene expression.

RESULTS: Soy saponin decreased the number of viable cells in a dose-dependent manner and suppressed 12-O-tetradecanol-phorbol-13-acetate-stimulated PKC activity (P < 0.05). Cells treated with saponins developed cytoplasmic vesicles and the cell membrane became rougher and more irregular in a dose-dependent manner, and eventually disassembled. At 600 and 1200 ppm, the activity of AP was increased (P < 0.05). However, the apoptosis markers such as c-Jun and c-Fos were not significantly affected by saponin.

CONCLUSION: Soy saponin may be effective in preventing colon cancer by affecting cell morphology, cell proliferation enzymes, and cell growth.

Keywords: Soy saponin; Colon cancer; Apoptosis; Cell proliferation; Cell differentiation