Cellular uptake of ginsenosides in Korean white ginseng and red ginseng and their apoptotic activities in human breast cancer cells.
Panax ginseng has been reported to have cancer-preventive properties and, through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pro-apoptotic mechanisms, to influence gene expression. However, the comparison of Korean white ginseng (WG) and red ginseng (RG) in their apoptotic effects and the identification of the selective cellular uptake of the ginsenosides in human breast cancer cells have not yet been fully understood. In the present study, the relative nonpolar and protopanaxadiol (PPD) class ginsenosides exhibited more cytotoxic and efficient cellular uptake on MCF-7 cells compared with the relative polar and protopanaxatriol (PPT) class compounds. PPD class ginsenosides were present in RG in a 2.5 times higher concentration as compared to WG, while PPT class ginsenosides were only present in WG. Thus, RG exerted more potent cytotoxicity than WG against MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells. RG also increased the sub-G1 DNA contents of the cell cycle and Annexin V-positive apoptotic bodies undergoing apoptosis through the caspase-3 activation in MCF-7 cells. In addition, RG downregulated the proliferative and anti-apoptotic gene products and potentiated paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Overall, RG contained a higher concentration of PPD class ginsenosides as compared to WG; the greater cellular uptake of PPD resulted in more substantial antiproliferative activity in human breast cancer cells.
Lee
Jung Il
JI
Department of Oriental Pathology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Ha
Young Wan
YW
Choi
Tae Won
TW
Kim
Hyun Jung
HJ
Kim
Sung-Moo
SM
Jang
Hyeung-Jin
HJ
Choi
Jung-Hye
JH
Choi
Man Ho
MH
Chung
Bong Chul
BC
Sethi
Gautam
G
Kim
Sung-Hoon
SH
Ahn
Kyoo Seok
KS
Choi
Seung-Hoon
SH
Shim
Bum Sang
BS
Ahn
Kwang Seok
KS
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D036145:Ginsenosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053148:Caspase 3