American Ginseng in the Prevention and Treatment of Human Breast Cancer
Abstract
This study is examining the effects of American ginseng on human breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. An extract of American ginseng was shown to significantly decrease MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 for ginseng extract on MCF-7 cell proliferation was 1.1 x 10(exp -3) g/ml, and for MDA-MB-231 cells the IC50 was 2.3 x 10(exp -3) g/ml. The ginseng extract also significantly decreased tumor size in female nude mice inoculated with MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and exposed to a 1% ginseng extract in their drinking water during the experiment. Analysis of the ginseng extract using HPLC demonstrated the presence of 7 identifiable ginsenosides, Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, and Rg1. When MDA-MB-231 or MCF-7 cells were incubated in the presence of a 50 micro-M concentration of ginsenoside, only ginsenoside Rc produced profound inhibition of cell proliferation; after 8 days of treatment, Rc-exposed cells were reduced by over 75% of control. The other ginsenosides had no effect on breast cancer cell proliferation. Thus, American ginseng extract and ginsenoside Rc may have potential preventative or therapeutic effects for breast cancer in humans.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA385433
Entities
People
- Laura Murphy
Organizations
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale