Objective To investigate the effect of astragaloside A on the proliferation and migration of human colon cancer SW480 cell line.

Methods The effect of astragaloside A on the viability of SW480 cells was detected by drug cytotoxicity test. The half inhibitory concentration was 168 μmol/L. Cell proliferation rate was detected by CCK-8. The expression levels of Ki67, PCNA, bcl-2, bax, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 were detected by Western blot. The apoptosis of SW480 cell was detected by Hoechst staining.

Results The viability of SW480 cell was significantly decreased while the concentration of astragaloside was greater than 20 μmol/L. Compared with the Control group, the proliferation rate was significantly decreased after SW480 cells were treated with astragaloside A. There was no significant change in the expression level of Ki67 in the low-dose astragaloside A group. The expression levels of Ki67 and PCNA in the middle-dose and high-dose astragaloside A groups were significantly decreased. After the intervention of astragaloside A, the ratio of apoptotic cells was significantly increased, the expression level of bcl-2 was significantly decreased, the expression levels of bax, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 were significantly increased, and the effect was more obvious with the increase of astragaloside A concentration.

Conclusion Astragaloside A could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of human colon cancer SW480 cell line.