Inhibitory Effects of Saponins From Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge on the Growth of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Objective To investigate the effects of saponins from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge （SAaB） （Botanical Name： Anemarrhena Asphodeloidis Rhizoma） on the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells （VSMCs）. Methods Cell proliferation was measured by a newly developed cell proliferation reagent, WST-1. Cell apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry through detecting annexin V. Nitric oxide production was evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy with diaminofluorescein diacetate （DAF-2, DA）. Cell aldose reductase （AR） activity, as well as the effect of Epalrestat and interleukin-1β were also explored. Results WST assay showed that cell proliferation induced by serum was significantly inhibited by SAaB （P〈0.01）. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that SAaB could enhance apoptotic rate of VSMCs （P〈0.01）. Nitric oxide production was significantly enhanced after administration of SAaB and interleukin-Iβ Moreover, AR activity of VSMCs was also remarkably inhibited by both SAaB and Epalrestat （P〈 0.01）. Conclusion SAaB can inhibit proliferation and enhance apoptosis of VSMCs. It may protect vascular cells by inhibiting VSMC proliferation and augmenting apoptotic rate of VSMCs via NO-dependent pathway.