Mountain ginseng extract exhibits anti-lung cancer activity by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of NF-κB.
Administration of mountain ginseng (MG) extract can restore advanced cancer to a normal state. To elucidate the mechanism by which MG extract prevents the progression of lung cancer, the processes of proliferation and death of lung cancer cells (A549) were examined after treatment with MG extract. Butanol-extracted MG (BX-MG) showed a high inhibitory effect (IC(50) = 2 mg/ml) by attenuating proliferation and inducing apoptosis in lung cancer cells. By HPLC-UV analysis of BX-MG, ginsenosides, Rb1 was identified as the most abundant ginsenoside, followed by Rg1, Re, Rc and Rb2. BX-MG induced caspase-3 dependent apoptosis by inhibiting NF-κB. In addition, BX-MG activated p53 and p21, resulting in the attenuated proliferation of A549 cells. Reduced activity of the NF-κB promoter and increased activity of the p53 promoter indicate that BX-MG regulates apoptosis at the level of transcription in lung cancer cells. Furthermore, BX-MG blocked the nuclear translocation of RelA and the associated reduction in surviving. These results suggest that BX-MG inhibits lung cancer cell growth by activating tumor suppressors and inhibiting nuclear translocation of NF-κB.
Division of Life Science, Korea Basic Science Institute, Gwahangno 169-148, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Jeong Won
JW
Hwang
Jung Han
JH
Oh
Hwa-Seung
HS
Yoo
Yeon-Weol
YW
Lee
Chong-Kwan
CK
Cho
Ki-Rok
KR
Kwon
Jung-Ho
JH
Yoon
Junsoo
J
Park
Song
S
Her
Zee-Won
ZW
Lee
Ik-Soon
IS
Jang
Jong-Soon
JS
Choi
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D036145:Ginsenosides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53