[Induction of phenotypic reverse transformation by plant glycosides in cultured cancer cells]

Crude ginsenosides extracted from the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer inhibited the growth and colony forming ability of Morris hepatoma cells in soft agar suspension culture, and stimulate the serum protein synthesis of these cells, thus converting the cell characteristics both functionally and morphologically to those resembling original normal liver cells. We have called such a phenomenon "reverse transformation" or "redifferentiation" which can be regarded as decarcinogenesis. In this report, the results of our recent investigations are presented with particular reference to reverse transformation of B16 melanoma cells induced by ginsenoside Rh2 isolated from the methanol extract of crude ginseng saponin fraction and action mechanisms of ginsenoside Rh2 are also discussed.