Macranthoside B (MB) is a triterpenoid saponin extracted from Lonicera macranthoides, a traditional Chinese medicine. In the current study, we investigated the anticancer potential of MB in various cancer cells and elucidated its underlying mechanisms. MB exposure inhibited cell proliferation, induced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss, increased sub-G1 accumulation, and resulted in cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP, which are reflective of apoptosis. In HeLa cells, MB induced down-regulation of SOD2 and GPx1, phosphorylation of Akt and PDK1, and thus promoted ROS-mediated apoptosis. This was further supported by the protection of sub-G1 accumulation, MMP loss, cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP in the presence of N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Additionally, MB induced cell death via down-regulation of ubiquitin-like with PHD and ringfinger domains 1 (UHRF1) and Bcl-xL. Taken together, this study provides a new insight into the apoptosis- inducing potential of MB, and its molecular mechanisms are associated with an increase in oxidative stress and inhibition of the PDK1/Akt pathway.

Department of Environmental Health University of Fukui School of Medical Sciences Fukui Japan

Faculty of Eastern Medicine Hamdard University Islamabad Pakistan

School of Life Science and Technology Henan Institute of Science and Technology Xinxiang China

School of Medicine Xizang Minzu University Weicheng District Xianyang Shaanxi China

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