Effect of Astragalus polysaccharide on cell proliferation, apoptosis and insulin secretion in MIN6 cells

Objective: To investigate the effect of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) at various concentrations on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and insulin secretion in MIN6 cells. Methods: MIN6 cells were treated with various concentrations of APS (0, 10, 100 and 1 000 μg · mL ^-1) for 48 h. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT method, cell apoptosis assayed by flow cytometry, and insulin secretion was measured after stimulation with glucose at various concentrations. Results: The cell proliferation activity was higher in APS (100 μg · mL ^-1) group than in control group. The cell apoptosis was lower in 10 and 100 μg · mL ^-1 APS groups than in control group (P > 0.05), while it was higher in 1 000 μg · mL ^-1 APS group than in control group (P < 0.05). The insulin secretion was higher in 10 and 100 μg · mL ^-1 APS groups than in control group (P < 0.05), while it was lower in 1000 μg · mL ^-1 APS group than in control group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: APS at low and mediate concentrations increases cell proliferation activity, decreases apoptosis, and increases insulin secretion, while its high concentration decreases cell proliferation activity, increases apoptosis, and decreases insulin secretion in MIN6 cells.