Work

From Functional Food to Therapeutic Prospect: Mechanistic Study of Gypenoside XVII in HeLa Cells

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cervical cancer remains a prominent cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide because of chronic infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and disparate access to prevention and treatment. The current research evaluates the anticancer activity of Gypenoside XVII, a bioactive saponin of Gynostemma pentaphyllum, in HeLa cells as a model of cervical cancer. MTT, Annexin V-PI, and Hoechst 33342 assays showed dose-dependent growth inhibition with typical apoptotic morphology. Flow cytometry revealed G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest, while pathway interrogation revealed participation of mitochondrial and death-receptor cascades, in agreement with caspase-9 and caspase-8 activation, respectively. Collectively, these findings position Gypenoside XVII as a natural-product bioactive with potential both as an anticancer lead and as a functional-food ingredient, deserving of further preclinical development.

Source: Molecules

DOI: 10.3390/molecules31020214

Authors: Sayed Sajid Hussain, Muhammad Maisam, Shoaib Younas, Feng Wang, Weijie Li

Institutions: Hefei University of Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Natural product bioactivities and synthesis

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258