title: Inhibition of mutagenesis and transformation by root extracts of Panax ginseng in vitro.
abstract: The root extract of Panax ginseng was investigated for its inhibitory effects on DNA synthesis, mutagenicity, and cellular transformation using V79 and NIH 3T3 cells. DNA synthesis measured by the [3H]thymidine incorporation into V79 Chinese hamster lung cells was significantly decreased by the addition of ginseng extract (0-1 microgram/ml) to the medium. However, ginseng extract was found to increase the rate of DNA excision repair synthesis in V79 cells in response to treatment with UV radiation or methyl methanesulfonate. The extract also showed decreased mutation frequency when mutagenicity was examined using V79 cells at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase locus as resistance to 6-thioguanine after exposure to methyl methanesulfonate. We also found that the components of ginseng extract continue to exert an inhibitory effect on the transformation of NIH 3T3 cells initiated by 3-methylchloanthrene, methyl methanesulfonate, and 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Chung Nam National University, Taejon, Korea.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016296:Mutagenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005894:Panax / Q000032:analysis*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic