[Investigations on the molecular mechanisms of saponins from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge using oligonucleotide microarrays].

To investigate the molecular mechanisms of saponins from the rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge. Oligonucleotide microarrays consisting of 87 probes representing 87 human cardiovascular disease-related genes were constructed. Effects of saponins on gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells were analyzed by comparing hybridization of Cy 5-labeled cDNAs from saponins-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells and Cy 3-labeled cDNAs from untreated human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The results indicate that angiotensinogen gene, alpha 2A-adrenoceptor gene and endothelin-converting enzyme 1 gene were downregulated 2.8, 1.9 and 3.1 folds respectively after human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated in medium containing 80 mg.L-1 saponins. These results suggest that saponins may have beneficial effect on cardiovascular diseases by modulating the function of vein endothial cells and microarray can be used to investigate the biological action of extracts from traditional Chinese medicine.