Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40351423›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in pharmacology2025

Saikosaponin A induces cellular senescence in triple-negative breast cancer by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway.

Yingchao Wu, Liushan Chen, Dajin Pi, Jiaqi Cui, Yuqi Liang, Peng Wu, Mingzi Ouyang, Qian Zuo

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Ethyl acetate extract ofResearch in pharmaceutical sciences · 2026
    Article
  3. International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yingchao WuState Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Liushan ChenState Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Dajin PiSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Jiaqi CuiSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Yuqi LiangState Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Peng WuThe Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Mingzi OuyangSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Qian ZuoState Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer has now become the most prevalent cancer worldwide. Existing therapeutic agents are generally accompanied by significant side effects. Here, we highlight Saikosaponin A (SSA), a promising natural metabolite characterized by low toxicity, demonstrating significant efficacy against breast cancer through the induction of cellular senescence. Methods: The antitumor property of SSA was determined via MTT colorimetric assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation assay, colony formation, and propidium iodide (PI) staining Results: SSA significantly suppressed proliferation and triggered cell cycle arrest of SUM159PT and MDA-MB-231 cells. Revealed by network analysis, cellular senescence, and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway were implemented in the anti-tumor effects of SSA. SSA-stimulated senescence was associated with increased ROS production, distinct senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and restricted PI3K/Akt signaling, as well as p21 and p53 accumulation. Furthermore, SSA displayed inhibitory effects on tumor growth with minimal toxicity in animal studies, accompanied by activated biomarkers of cellular senescence and decreased expression of p-Akt and p-PI3K. Conclusion: Taken together, based on the preliminary results of network analysis and further experimental validation, this study revealed that SSA significantly induced cell cycle arrest and senescence, and the inhibition of ROS-mediated PI3K/Akt pathway may be the potential mechanism in this process.

Indexed as

breast cancercellular senescencenetwork analysisPI3K/Akt signaling pathwaysaikosaponin a

Identifiers

PMID40351423
PMCPMC12062077

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.