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Anticarcinogenic effect of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and identification of active compounds
1Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea. tkyun@nuri.net
Abstract:
The failure to improve the five-year survival rate of cancer patients, from one in three in the 1960s to one in two in the 1970s, stimulated awareness of the importance of primary prevention of cancer. Korean investigators carried out extensive long-term anticarcinogenicity experiments with 2000 newborn mice to investigate whether Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer inhibited carcinogenesis induced by several chemical carcinogens in 1978. There was a 22% decrease (p<0.05) in the incidence of urethane induced lung adenoma by the combined use of red ginseng extract. In the group sacrificed at 56 weeks after the treatment with aflatoxin B1, the incidence of hepatoma significantly decreased to 75% by the addition of red ginseng extract (p<0.05). The result showed that natural products can provide hope for human cancer prevention. By the newly established '9 week medium-term anticarcinogenicity test model of lung tumors in mice' (Yun's model), we confirmed significant anticarcinogenic effects of powders and extracts of the 6- yr-old dried fresh ginseng, 5- and 6-yr old white ginsengs, and 4-, 5-, and 6-yr old red ginseng. We also demonstrated that the anticarcinogencity of ginseng was more prominent in aged or heat treated extracts of ginseng and red ginseng made by steaming. To investigate the active components for cancer prevention, several fractions of 6-yr old fresh ginseng and red ginseng, four semi-synthetic ginsenoside Rh1, Rh2, Rg3 and Rg5, major saponin components in red ginseng, were prepared. Among the ginsenosides, Rg3 and Rg5 showed statistically significant reduction of lung tumor incidence and Rh2 had a tendency of decreasing the incidence. Ginsenoside Rg3, Rg5 and Rh2 were found to be active anticarcinogenic compounds. Rg3, Rg5 and Rh2 are active components in red ginseng, and they prevent cancer either singularly or synergistically.
Insights
Panax ginseng, particularly red ginseng extract, demonstrated significant cancer prevention in mice studies. Specific ginsenosides like Rg3, Rg5, and Rh2 were identified as active compounds, offering hope for natural cancer prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- * Oncology
- * Natural Product Chemistry
- * Chemoprevention Research
Background:
- * Declining cancer survival rates in the mid-20th century highlighted the need for primary cancer prevention.
- * Traditional use of Panax ginseng prompted investigation into its potential anticarcinogenic properties.
- * Early experiments in 1978 indicated promising results for red ginseng extract in inhibiting chemical carcinogen-induced cancers in mice.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate the anticarcinogenic effects of Panax ginseng, specifically red ginseng extract, against chemically induced cancers in mice.
- * To evaluate the efficacy of different ginseng preparations (fresh, white, red) and processing methods (aging, steaming) on cancer prevention.
- * To identify specific active components within ginseng, particularly ginsenosides, responsible for its cancer-preventive properties.
Main Methods:
- * Long-term anticarcinogenicity experiments involving 2000 newborn mice exposed to chemical carcinogens (urethane, aflatoxin B1).
- * Utilization of a newly established '9-week medium-term anticarcinogenicity test model of lung tumors in mice' (Yun's model).
- * Preparation and testing of various ginseng extracts, powders, and semi-synthetic ginsenosides (Rh1, Rh2, Rg3, Rg5).
Main Results:
- * Red ginseng extract significantly decreased the incidence of urethane-induced lung adenoma (22% reduction) and aflatoxin B1-induced hepatoma (75% reduction) in mice.
- * Significant anticarcinogenic effects were confirmed for various forms of ginseng (fresh, white, red) using Yun's model.
- * Ginsenosides Rg3 and Rg5 demonstrated statistically significant reductions in lung tumor incidence, while Rh2 showed a tendency to decrease incidence, identifying them as active anticarcinogenic compounds.
Conclusions:
- * Panax ginseng, especially red ginseng and its active components (ginsenosides Rg3, Rg5, Rh2), exhibits significant anticarcinogenic effects.
- * Aged or heat-treated ginseng extracts, particularly red ginseng, show enhanced cancer-preventive properties.
- * Natural products like ginseng offer a promising avenue for human cancer prevention, acting either individually or synergistically.
