Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Exploring the Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Sheet on The Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Vivo
10:18

Exploring the Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Sheet on The Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Vivo

Published on: September 11, 2018

6.3K

Ginsenoside Rg5 Targets PRDX1 to Disrupt Redox Homeostasis and Induce Mitochondria-Dependent Apoptosis in Human

Hai-Lun Ye1, Ya-Ni Wang1, Gang-Ao Li1

  • 1Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Ginsenoside Rg5 inhibits the antioxidant enzyme PRDX1, crucial for liver cancer cell survival. This PRDX1 inhibition triggers cancer cell death and enhances chemotherapy effectiveness, offering new therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer mortality with limited treatments.
  • Cancer cells, including HCC, rely on metabolic and redox adaptations for survival.
  • Peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1) is overexpressed in HCC, neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promoting tumor cell survival and drug resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify small molecules that inhibit PRDX1 in hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • To investigate the mechanism of action of ginsenoside Rg5 (Rg5) as a PRDX1 inhibitor.
  • To evaluate the therapeutic potential of Rg5, alone and in combination with doxorubicin, for HCC treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells as an in vitro model.
  • Performed structural and functional analyses to determine Rg5's binding site and inhibitory effect on PRDX1.
  • Assessed the impact of Rg5 on ROS levels, mitochondrial function, apoptosis, and cell viability.
  • Evaluated the synergistic effect of Rg5 with doxorubicin on HCC cells.

Main Results:

  • Identified ginsenoside Rg5 (Rg5) as a novel small-molecule inhibitor of PRDX1.
  • Demonstrated that Rg5 directly binds to Asn145 of PRDX1, suppressing its peroxidase activity.
  • Showed that Rg5-induced PRDX1 inhibition leads to ROS accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and death of HepG2 cells.
  • Confirmed that Rg5 enhances the antitumor efficacy of doxorubicin and may overcome chemoresistance.

Conclusions:

  • PRDX1 is a druggable vulnerability in liver cancer.
  • Ginsenoside Rg5 effectively inhibits PRDX1, inducing hepatocellular carcinoma cell death.
  • Rg5 shows promise as a therapeutic agent for HCC, particularly in combination therapies.
Keywords:
DOXROSapoptosiscancer therapyginsenoside Rg5peroxiredoxin 1synergistic therapy

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Investigating Liver Cancer Pathogenesis Using Patient-Derived Organoids07:25

Author Spotlight: Investigating Liver Cancer Pathogenesis Using Patient-Derived Organoids

Published on: August 18, 2023

2.6K
Study of Viral Vectors in a Three-dimensional Liver Model Repopulated with the Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line HepG209:13

Study of Viral Vectors in a Three-dimensional Liver Model Repopulated with the Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line HepG2

Published on: October 24, 2016

8.5K

Related Concept Videos

Balancing Redox Equations02:58

Balancing Redox Equations

Electrochemistry is the science involved in the interconversion of electrical and chemical reactions. Such reactions are called reduction-oxidation, or redox reactions. These important reactions are defined by changes in oxidation states for one or more reactant elements and include a subset of reactions involving the transfer of electrons between reactant species. Electrochemistry as a field has evolved to yield sufficient insights on the fundamental principles of redox chemistry and multiple...
62.5K
Redox Reactions01:24

Redox Reactions

Oxidation-reduction or redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons from one molecule or atom to another. When an atom gains an electron, another atom must lose an electron, meaning oxidation and reduction must occur together. Since the redox occurs in pairs, the atom that gets oxidized is also called the reducing agent or reductant, and the atom that is reduced is also called the oxidizing agent or oxidant. A straightforward way to remember the definitions of oxidation and reduction is...
58.9K
Redox Reactions01:27

Redox Reactions

Redox reactions are vital biochemical processes that underpin energy metabolism in cells. These reactions involve the transfer of electrons between molecules, occurring in tandem as oxidation and reduction. Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons, while reduction denotes their gain. This coupling ensures the seamless flow of electrons through metabolic pathways. For example, in bacterial metabolism, glucose undergoes oxidation to carbon dioxide, while oxygen is simultaneously reduced to...
1.2K
Peroxisomes and Mitochondria01:30

Peroxisomes and Mitochondria

Peroxisomes and mitochondria are two important oxygen-utilizing organelles in eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria carry out cellular respiration—the process that converts energy from food into ATP. Peroxisomes carry out a variety of functions, primarily breaking down different substances, such as fatty acids.
The peroxisome is a single membrane-bound cellular organelle that can perform several different functions, including lipid metabolism and chemical detoxification. The enzymes within...
98.0K
What is Homeostasis?01:16

What is Homeostasis?

Maintaining homeostasis requires that the body continuously maintain its internal conditions. Each physiological condition has a particular set point, from body temperature to blood pressure to levels of certain nutrients. A set point is the physiological value around which the normal range fluctuates. A normal range is a restricted set of values that is optimally healthful and stable. For example, the set point for normal human body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F).
57.4K
pH Homeostasis01:31

pH Homeostasis

Acid-base homeostasis is essential for maintaining normal physiological activities in humans. The pH of various body fluids is strictly regulated because it is critical for the optimal activity of enzymes involved in metabolic reactions. Enzymes are basically proteins, so, any significant change in pH can affect their structure and activity. In humans, pH is regulated using three primary mechanisms— chemical buffer systems, respiratory regulation, and renal regulation.
Respiratory...
20.1K