Astragaloside attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced cell apoptosis in human gingiva cells via MAPK signaling pathway

Subjects The aim of this study was to research the antiapoptotic effect of astragaloside, the principal component of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge, in human gingiva cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods According to the treatment, human gingiva cells were divided into five groups, including (1) control group without drug treatment; (2) imitating group, treated with LPS (10 mu g center dot mL(-1)) alone; (3) low group, treated with LPS and 50 mu mol center dot L-1 astragaloside; (4) medium group, treated with LPS and 100 mu mol center dot L-1 astragaloside; and (5) high group, treated with LPS and 150 mu mol center dot L-1 astragaloside. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were investigated using MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Apoptosis and mitogen-activated protein kinase associated proteins were determined using Western blot analysis. Results LPS significantly suppressed the proliferation of human gingiva cells, but astragaloside obviously attenuated this change with a dose-dependent manner. LPS significantly promoted the apoptosis of human gingiva cells, but astragaloside treatments significantly attenuated this change with a dose-dependent manner. In addition, LPS could significant upregulated the expression of P-p38, P-JNK, Bax, and caspase-3. Conclusion Astragaloside preformed a promising antiapoptotic role in apoptosis of human gingiva cells induced by LPS. This finding might provide us with a novel therapeutic method in tooth protection.