title: Ginseng saponin metabolite induces apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells through the modulation of AMP-activated protein kinase.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that the ginseng saponin metabolite, Compound K (20-O-d-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol, IH901), suppresses proliferation of various cancers and induces apoptosis. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a sensor of cellular energy states and is involved in apoptosis of cancer cells. We hypothesized that Compound K may exert cytotoxicity in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells through modulation of AMPK, followed by a decrease in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Compound K inhibited cell growth, induced apoptosis via generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as decreasing COX-2 expression and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) levels. These effects of Compound K were induced via an AMPK-dependent pathway and were abrogated by a specific AMPK inhibitor. These results suggest that Compound K induced apoptosis by modulating AMPK-COX-2 signaling in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Life Science, Jeju National University, Jeju-si 690-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Areum Daseul
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyoung Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chae Moon
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hee Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: You Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Chang Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jinny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Weon Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jin Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hyun