American Ginseng in the Prevention and Treatment of Human Breast Cancer

Abstract

Abstract : The effects of ginseng on the prevention and treatment of breast cancer has not been studied. This research project was designed to examine the effects of American ginseng on breast cancer using well-established in vitro and in vivo experimental models. It is our hypothesis that ginseng, and its ginsenosides in particular, would inhibit the proliferation and growth of human breast cancer cells. Our results have shown that an extract of American ginseng inhibited MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, ginseng extract in the drinking water of female nude mice significantly decreased human breast cancer tumor growth. We have identified several different ginsenosides in ginseng extract and determined that only ginsenoside Rc potently inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro. These findings are the first to suggest that ginsenoside Rc may be responsible for the anti-proliferating actions of ginseng extract on human breast cancer cell proliferation. We have also shown that ginsenoside Rh2, a component of Asian ginseng, significantly inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation. More recent data suggested that ginsenoside Rc may inhibit breast cancer cell cycle progression, whereas ginsenoside Rh2, especially at higher doses, is cytotoxic. Thus, different ginsenosides may have very different mechanisms of action.