title: Effect of compound K, a metabolite of ginseng saponin, combined with gamma-ray radiation in human lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Pretreatment of NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells with compound K produced by intestinal bacteria enhances gamma-ray radiation-induced cell death. Increases in apoptosis induced by combined treatment are made apparent in the observation of nuclear fragmentation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsi), and activation of caspase 3. Apoptosis induced by compound K and gamma-ray radiation is associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Furthermore, compound K, in combination with gamma-ray radiation, has an enhanced effect in the regression of NCI-H460 tumor xenografts of nude mice. These results suggest that compound K has possible application for cancer therapy when used in combination with gamma-ray radiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Herbal Resources Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sungwook
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Kyoung Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Weon Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Su Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yun Sil
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hee Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hyun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005720:Gamma Rays; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D012503:Saponins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; D012503:Saponins; C112772:ginsenoside compound K