Protective effects of Notoginsenoside R1 on the ferroptosis of a human non‑small cell lung cancer cell line

The present study investigated the effects of Notoginsenoside R1 (NG‑R1) on human non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells and explored its potential mechanisms. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay after 72 h of treatment with varying concentrations of NG‑R1 (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 2 mg/ml), which inhibited A549 cell viability in a dose‑dependent manner. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were evaluated using the BeyoClick™ EdU‑594 proliferation assay, wound healing assay and Matrigel®‑coated Transwell invasion assay, respectively. NG‑R1 at concentrations of 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 mg/ml significantly suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 cells compared with the control. In addition, these doses of NG‑R1 increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels as measured using the fluorescent probe 2',7'‑dichlorofluorescein diacetate. Western blot analysis revealed that treatment with NG‑R1 (0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 mg/ml) upregulated the expression of the ferroptosis‑related protein transferrin receptor 1, and downregulated solute carrier family 7 member 11, glutathione peroxidase 4 and ferritin heavy chain 1. Collectively, these findings indicate that NG‑R1 inhibited the proliferation of NSCLC A549 cells, likely through the induction of ROS accumulation and ferroptosis.