Red American Ginseng: Ginsenoside Constituents and Antiproliferative Activities of Heat-Processed Panax quinquefolius Roots

Abstract

Red Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, Araliaceae) is used in many Oriental countries. In this study, the saponin constituents and anticancer activities of steamed American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) roots were evaluated. The contents of 12 ginsenosides in the roots were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After the steaming treatment (100 - 120 °C for 1 h and 120 °C for 0.5 - 4 h), the quantity of 7 ginsenosides decreased and that of 5 others increased. The content of ginsenoside Rg3, a previously recognized anticancer compound, increased significantly when the root was steamed at 120 °C for 0.5 - 3 h. The antiproliferative effects of unsteamed and steamed (120 °C for 1 h and 2 h) American ginseng root extracts were assayed by the modified trichrome stain (MTS) method using three cancer cell lines (SW-480, HT-29, NSCLC). Heat-processing increased the antiproliferative effect of American ginseng significantly, and the activity of the extract from roots steamed for 2 h was greater than that of roots steamed for 1 h. Chemical constituents and antiproliferative activities of white and red Asian ginseng have also been evaluated. Five representative ginsenosides, Rb1, Rd, Re, Rg2 and Rg3, were studied. Ginsenoside Rg3 had the most potent effect. The antiproliferative activities of red American ginseng are augmented when ginsenoside Rg3 is increased.

References

• 1 Ang-Lee M K, Moss J, Yuan C S. Herbal medicines and perioperative care.  JAMA. 2001;  286 208-16.
• 2 Takaku T, Kameda K, Matsuura Y, Sekiya K, Okuda H. Studies on insulin-like substances in Korean red ginseng.  Planta Med. 1990;  56 27-30.
• 3 Helms S. Cancer prevention and therapeutics: Panax ginseng .  Altern Med Rev. 2004;  9 259-74.
• 4 Xie J T, Mchendale S, Yuan C S. Ginseng and diabetes.  Am J Chin Med. 2005;  33 397-404.
• 5 Liou C J, Huang W C, Tseng J. Long-term oral administration of ginseng extract modulates humoral immune response and spleen cell functions.  Am J Chin Med. 2005;  33 651-61.
• 6 Yun T K, Lee Y S, Lee Y H, Kim S I, Yun H Y. Anticarcinogenic effect of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and identification of active compounds.  J Korean Med Sci. 2001;  16 S6-18.
• 7 Yoo H H, Yokozawa T, Satoh A, Kang K S, Kim H Y. Effects of ginseng on the proliferation of human lung fibroblasts.  Am J Chin Med. 2006;  34 137-46.
• 8 Kim K T, Yoo K M, Lee J W, Eom S H, Hwang I K, Lee C Y. Protective effect of steamed American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) on V79 - 4 cells induced by oxidative stress. J Ethnopharmacol advance online publication 2007.
• 9 Park J D, Rhee D K, Lee Y H. Biological activities and chemistry of saponins from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer.  Phytochem Rev. 2005;  4 159-75.
• 10 Wang C Z, McEntee E, Wicks S, Wu J A, Yuan C S. Phytochemical and analytical studies of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen.  J Nat Med. 2006;  60 97-106.
• 11 Wang C Z, Wu J A, McEntee E, Yuan C S. Saponins composition in American ginseng leaf and berry assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography.  J Agric Food Chem. 2006;  54 2261-6.
• 12 Francois F, Park J, Bini E J. Colon pathology detected after a positive screening flexible sigmoidoscopy: a prospective study in an ethnically diverse cohort.  Am J Gastroenterol. 2006;  101 823-30.
• 13 Jemal A, Tiwari R C, Murray T, Ghafoor A, Samuels A, Ward E. et al . Cancer statistics, 2004.  CA Cancer J Clin. 2004;  54 8-29.
• 14 Penna C, Nordlinger B. Colorectal metastasis (liver and lung).  Surg Clin North Am. 2002;  82 1075-90.
• 15 Saijo N. Recent trends in the treatment of advanced lung cancer.  Cancer Sci. 2006;  97 448-52.
• 16 Wang C Z, Zhang B, Song W X, Wang A, Ni M, Luo X. et al . Steamed American ginseng berry: ginsenoside analyses and anticancer activities.  J Agric Food Chem. 2006;  54 9936-42.
• 17 Cory A H, Owen T C, Barltrop J A, Cory J G. Use of an aqueous soluble tetrazolium/formazan assay for cell growth assays in culture.  Cancer Commun. 1991;  3 207-12.