Effect of asparagus saponins on HepG2 apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS level

To study the effect of Saponins of asparagus on HepG2 apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) levels. Saponins of asparagus with different concentration was treated with HepG2 at different time, MTT assay was used to detect inhibitory rate, fluorescence staining was used to observe apoptosis morphology, flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis rate and cell cycle, also ROS and Δψm were measured by flow cytometry. Results showed Saponins of asparagus inhibited cell proliferation; the IC50 on HepG2 was 172.3 μg/mL. Apoptosis morphology was observed by fluorescence microscope, some of the cells had changed from irregular shapes into round cells, the nuclei had decreased in size, the number of nucleoli had decreased; the chromatin had condensed, with the cytoplasm becoming more concentrated. The cell cycle of HepG2 was arrested at S phase, G2/M phase percent decreased. After 72h the treated group appeared apoptosis peak, and apoptosis rate with high dose group 30.94±1.74%; After 48h the ROS in treated group increased with high dose group 77.7±4.5%; and Δψm decreased with high dose group 77.8±1.9% From the above it can be seen that Asparagus saponins have a relatively strong inhibitory effect on HepG2 cells, and the mechanism involved has to do with their role in increasing the production of intracellular ROS, which leads to the lowering of mitochondrial membrane potential, thus initiating the apoptosis mechanism that induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells.