絞股藍是一種兼俱扶正補益與清熱解毒作用的抗癌中草藥，文獻顯示其萃取物絞股藍總皂苷有保肝、抗癌等廣泛功能，臨床上常用於治療肝癌的中醫複方中。本實驗目的即以體外實驗探討絞股藍總皂苷是否能誘發肝癌細胞株產生細胞凋亡的作用。培養癌化程度不同之肝癌細胞株HepG2及HA22T/VGH，給予不同濃度的絞股藍總皂苷，培養不同時間，經MTT生長抑制試驗、電泳觀察DNA裂解片斷、流式細胞儀觀察PI染色後的細胞周期現象，分析是否有誘發細胞凋亡現象。結果顯示絞股藍總皂苷對HepG2及HA22T/VGH均有生長抑制以及細胞周期有G1 arrest現象，電泳則見HA22T/VGH有DNA裂解片斷。實驗支持絞股藍有誘導肝癌細胞株HepG2及HA22T/VGH細胞凋亡作用。

Gynostemma pentaphyllum is a Chinese medical herb possessing anti-tumor effects as it helps to restore the body's overall balance, to enhance physiological performance, and has detoxification and antioxidant qualities. The active compounds present in the extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum was found to be gypenosides which has wide range of actions and may help to promote liver functions and inhibit tumor growth. Gypenosides are therefore often included in medications for treating liver cancers. In this study, Gypenosides were tested to induce apoptosis in cells of several hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Two hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, HepG2 which is well differentiated, and HA22T/VGH, which was poorly differentiated, were cultured. After the addition of different concentrations of gypenosides, the cultures were incubated further for various periods of time. Induction of apoptosis was manifested by cytotoxicity in MTT tests, DNA fragmentation after electrophoresis and cell cycle arrest in flow cytometry analysis. For the evaluation of apoptosis. The results indicated that gypenosides inhibited cell growth of both HepG2 and HA22T/VGH, and G1 arrest was demonstrated in these cells. Electrophoresis of isolated genomic DNA showed extensive fragmentation as compared to controls. In summary, evidences provided by this study support the hypothesis that Gynostemma pentaphyllum may induce apoptosis in cells of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, HepG2 and HA22T/VGH.