Effects of Astragalus injection and its ingredients on proliferation and Akt phosphorylation of breast cancer cell lines

Abstract

To observe the effects of Astragalus injection, astragaloside IV and formononetin on proliferation and Akt phosphorylation of basal-like human breast carcinoma cell lines MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231. The effects of different concentrations of Astragalus injection, astragaloside IV and formononetin on proliferation of breast cancer cell lines were assayed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, and their effects on phospho-Akt were assayed by in-cell Western blot method. The results of the MTT assay showed that the best concentrations of Astragalus injection, astragaloside IV, formononetin and astragaloside IV plus formononetin were 1 g/mL, 80 microg/mL, 40 microg/mL and 10 microg/mL plus 40 microg/mL respectively. After 1- or 2-day culture, Astragalus injection, astragaloside IV, formononetin and astragaloside IV plus formononetin decreased the expressions of p-Akt (Thr 308) and p-Akt (Ser 473) in MDA-MB-468 cells. Formononetin and astragaloside IV plus formononetin down-regulated the expression of p-Akt (Thr 308) protein in MDA-MB-231 cells after 1- and 2-day culture, but had no effects on the expression of p-Akt (Ser 473) protein in MDA-MB-231 cells. Astragalus injection, astragaloside IV and formononetin can inhibit proliferation of breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231, and the antiproliferation effects vary according to their concentrations. And the antiproliferation mechanisms may be related to their down-regulation effects on Akt phosphorylation.