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Ginsenosides inhibit EGF-induced proliferation of renal proximal tubule cells via decrease of c-fos and c-jun gene

Ho Jae Han1, Byeong Cheol Yoon, Sang Hern Lee

  • 1Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hormone Research Center, Chonnam National University, Kwangju 500-757, Korea. hjhan@chonnam.ac.kr

Planta Medica
|November 27, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Ginsenosides, compounds from ginseng, inhibit kidney cell growth stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF). This suggests a potential role for ginseng in preventing environmentally related cancers by modulating cell proliferation pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Epidemiological studies link ginseng intake to reduced cancer risk.
  • The specific effects of ginsenosides on renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs) remain unclear.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for exploring ginseng's chemopreventive potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of total ginsenosides, protopanaxatriol (PT) saponins, and protopanaxadiol (PD) saponins on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced renal cell proliferation.
  • To examine the influence of these compounds on c-fos and c-jun gene expression in response to EGF.

Main Methods:

  • Primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs) were utilized.
  • Cells were treated with total ginsenosides, PT saponins, or PD saponins.
  • Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was used to induce proliferation and gene expression.

Main Results:

  • Total ginsenosides completely inhibited EGF-induced DNA synthesis and cell growth at 10^-6 g/ml.
  • PT and PD saponin fractions partially inhibited EGF-induced proliferation.
  • EGF-induced increases in c-fos and c-jun gene expression were completely blocked by total ginsenosides and partially by PT and PD saponins.

Conclusions:

  • Ginsenosides inhibit EGF-induced proliferation of renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs).
  • This inhibition occurs, in part, through the downregulation of c-fos and c-jun gene expression.
  • Findings support a potential mechanism for ginseng's chemopreventive effects against environmentally related cancers.

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