Anti-growth effects with components of Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9) on cultured human hepatoma cells

Abstract
The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects and the mechanism of the components of Sho-saiko-to (baicalein, baicalin, saikosaponin-a, saikosaponin-c, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rg1) on cultured human hepatoma cells (HuH-7). Cell cycle analysis was carried out with flow cytometry and the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labelling method. The results showed that baicalein, baicalin and saikosaponin-a inhibited cell proliferation dose-dependently but independently of the cell cycle. Furthermore, it was found that saikosaponin-a possesses a strong cell-killing effect. On the other hand, saikosaponin-c, ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Rg1 had no effect on cell proliferation.