Identification of 3--α-l-arabinosyl oleanolic acid, a triterpenoid saponin, as a new breast cancer stem cell growth inhibitor.

This study was conducted to determine the anti-cancer activity of 3--α-L-arabinosyl oleanolic acid (3-O-L-AO), a triterpenoid saponin, isolated from the leaves of Vahl in breast cancer stem cells (bCSCs) grown in hypoxia. Anti-proliferative effects of 3-O-L-AO in bCSCs were determined using WST-1 assay. Real-time PCR was employed to evaluate the effects of 3-O-L-AO on apoptosis.