title: Increase in apoptotic effect of Panax ginseng by microwave processing in human prostate cancer cells: in vitro and in vivo studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ginseng, which is widely used in functional foods and as an herbal medicine, has been reported to reduce the proliferation of prostate cancer cells by mechanisms that are not yet fully understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was designed to investigate the changes in ginsenoside content in ginseng after treatment with a microwave-irradiation thermal process and to verify the anticancer effects of the extracts. To confirm the anticancer effect of microwave-irradiated processed ginseng (MG), it was tested in three human prostate cancer cell lines (DU145, LNCaP, and PC-3 cells). Involvements of apoptosis and autophagy were assessed using Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After microwave treatment, the content of ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, and Rd in the extracts decreased, whereas the content of ginsenosides 20(S)-Rg3, 20(R)-Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5 increased. Antiproliferation results for the human cancer cell lines treated with ginseng extracts indicate that PC-3 cells treated with MG showed the highest activity with an half maximal inhibitory concentration of 48 μg/mL. We also showed that MG suppresses the growth of human prostate cancer cell xenografts in athymic nude mice as an in vivo model. This growth suppression by MG is associated with the inductions of cell death and autophagy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, heat processing by microwave irradiation is a useful method to enhance the anticancer effect of ginseng by increasing the content of ginsenosides Rg3, Rg5, and Rk1.
authors: College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors: Jun Yeon
authors: JY
authors: Park
authors: KIST Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung, Korea.
authors: Pilju
authors: P
authors: Choi
authors: Richwood Pharmaceutical Co., LTD., Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ho-Kyong
authors: HK
authors: Kim
authors: College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors: Ki Sung
authors: KS
authors: Kang
authors: KIST Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung, Korea.
authors: Jungyeob
authors: J
authors: Ham
keywords: Panax ginseng; anticancer; ginsenoside; microwave; prostate cancer