In 2007, a report showed that Astragalus saponins can inhibit HT-29 human colon cancer cell proliferation through accumulation in S phase and G2/M arrest, and promote apoptosis in HT-29 cells through Caspase 3 activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. This evidence concerns the gene CASP3 and malignant colon neoplasm.