Influence Of Total Saponins Of Aralia Echinocaulis On Proliferation And Apoptosis Of Synovial Fibroblast

Objective: To observe the influence on total saponin of Aralia echinocaulis(TSAE) on proliferation and apoptosis of MH7 A. Meanwhile, to explorer therapeutic effect on rheumatoid arheritis and its underlying machanism.Methods: To extracted TSAE by using 70% ethanol and butanol with the standard Ginsenoside Rg1 as control. The physicochemical characteristics of saponins in extracted sample were detected by UV spectrophotometry. To co-culture MH7 A cells in medium containing different concentration of TSAE with different time. The cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 assay, while apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. The cytokines IL-1β and IL-8 in supernatant of cultured cells was detected by ELISA.Results: Total saponin extracted from Aralia echinocaulis was detected to be the main substance in extraction. Different concentrations of TSAE significantly inhibited the proliferation of MH7 A cells and induced apoptosis of these cells. The amount of IL-1β and IL-8 in supernatant of saponin-cocultured cells decreased significantly with dose-dependent phenomenon.Conclusion: TSAE, the main active ingredient of Aralia echinocaulis, may play a pivotal role in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting proliferation of synovial fibroblasts and inducing cell apoptosis, and downregualting production of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-8 by these cells.