pseudo-G-Rh2 induces mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in SGC-7901 human gastric cancer cells

This study was designed to investigate the effect of pseudo-G-Rh2, a novelmetabolite of ginsenoside Rh2, on the apoptosis of SGC-7901 human gastric cancercells. Pseudo-G-Rh2 demonstrated antitumor activity and significantly inhibitedthe proliferation of SGC-7901 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Aftertreatment with pseudo-G-Rh2, SGC-7901 cells showed typical apoptotic morphologicalfeatures, such as chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation. Pseudo-G-Rh2 couldinduce mitochondrial membrane potential loss, which led to the release of cytochromec (Cyt c), Smac/Diablo and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) to the cell cytoplasm.Furthermore, pseudo-G-Rh2 exposure not only decreased the expression of the Bcl-2protein but also increased the expression of the Bax protein and the activitiesof caspase-9 and caspase-3 in SGC-7901 cells. These results demonstrated thatpseudo-G-Rh2 inhibited the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells by initiating apoptosis.Pseudo-G-Rh2-induced apoptosis was associated with a drop in the mitochondrialtransmembrane potential, down-regulation of Bcl-2, up-regulation of Bax and activationof caspase-9 and caspase-3.