Figure 1

Effect of Astragalus saponins on proliferation and cell cycle of BGC-823 cells. A. Astragalus saponins inhibited proliferation of BGC-823 cells. Cells were treated with, 20 μg/ml, 40 μg/ml, and 80 μg/ml Astragalus saponins, 0 μg/ml as a control, and cell proliferation was assessed using the CCK8 assay. Data are presented as the mean of triplicate experiments. The growth inhibitory effect of the Astragalus saponins was time and dose dependent, with the maximum inhibition detected 72 h after treatment. *Significant difference (p < 0.05). B. Astragalus saponins impaired cell cycle progression in BGC-823 cells. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. Data are presented as the mean of triplicate experiments. Administration of Astragalus saponins significantly increased the percentage of cells in the G0/G1 phase, and significantly decreased the S and G2/M phase fractions.