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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Functional Foods Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256397
Title: Mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hilaire) saponins induce caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in human colon cancer cells in vitro

Author
item PUANGPRAPHANT, SIRIMA - University Of Illinois
item Berhow, Mark
item DE MEJIA, ELVIRA GONZALEZ - University Of Illinois

Submitted to: Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/18/2010
Publication Date: 10/23/2010
Citation: Puangpraphant, S., Berhow, M.A., de Mejia, E.G. 2011. Mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hilaire) saponins induce caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in human colon cancer cells in vitro. Food Chemistry. 125:1171-1178.

Interpretive Summary: Yerba mate is a popular tea drink in South America and is gaining popularity in the United States. This research was aimed at characterizing some of the natural compounds, in particular the saponins, found in the leaves used to make the mate teas. The mate saponins were partially purified and characterized, and assessed for activity in cancer and inflamation bioassays. Saponins from mate leaves may be beneficial to prevent inflammation, thus reducing the risk of colon cancer.

Technical Abstract: Saponins are naturally occurring metabolites present in Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis), and other plant sources which have been associated with several health benefits. Mate saponins were extracted with methanol from dry leaves, partially purified and quantified. UV-HPLC analysis showed that the methanol extract contained between 10 – 15 mg/g total saponins, predominantly matesaponins 1 and 2. HPLC and LC/ESI-MS-MS were used to identify the saponins in six preparative chromatographic fractions (A, B, C, D, E, and F) obtained from the methanol extract. The major saponins were identified as matesaponin 1 [M-H]- ‘1 and matesaponin 2 [M-H]- _57, with trace amounts of matesaponin 3 [M-H]- _73, matesaponin 4 [M-H]- _19, and matesaponin 5 [M-H]- _83. There were two isomeric forms of matesaponin 2. The extracts were assessed for their in vitro anti-inflammatory effects on macrophages (RAW 264.7). Fractions A, B, and C did not reduce inflammatory markers. Fractions D, E, and F significantly inhibited iNOS (IC35 = 36.3, 29.5, 43.7 µM), PGE2 (IC35 = 23.1, 22.3, 11.7 µM) and COX-2 (IC35 = 45.7, 32.4, 17.0 µM), and were shown to contain matesaponins by mass spectra. Treatments with fraction F (25 µM) resulted in reduction of LPS-induced nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-'B (NF-'B) subunits p50 (49.8%) and p65 (49.0%) indicating that mate fractions inhibit inflammation through NF-'B pathways. Fraction F induced apoptosis through suppression of Bcl-2 and increased Bax protein expressions and activated caspase-3 activity. Saponins from mate leaves may be beneficial to prevent inflammation, thus reducing the risk of colon cancer.