Anti-Cancer Effects of Panax ginseng Berry Polysaccharides via Activation of Immune-Related Cells

Abstract

Panax ginseng has long been used as natural medicine and health food all over the world. Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide and its prognosis likely depends on the immune system during tumor treatment. In this study, ginseng berry polysaccharides were evaluated for their immunostimulant and anti-cancer effects. Ginseng berry polysaccharide portion (GBPP) was used to investigate its effects on anti-complementary activity, peritoneal macrophage activation, and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. Moreover, both intravenous (i.v.) and oral administration of GBPP prior to B16-BL6 melanoma implantation in mice was evaluated. GBPP significantly increased the anticomplementary activity and cytokine production including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, dose-dependently. Splenocytes obtained after i.v. administration of GBPP showed cytolytic activity in Yac-1 cells in proportion to the E/T ratio. In addition, GBPP enhanced the production of interferon (IFN)-γ and granzyme B of NK cells. For the experimental lung cancer, compared with control mice, GBPP delivered by i.v. suppressed cancer by 48% at 100 μg/mouse, while a 37% reduction was achieved by oral administration. Deficient of NK cells in animal model demonstrated that the anticancer effect of GBPP was through NK cell activation. Results of this study suggest that ginseng berry polysaccharides, owing to their modulation of the immune response, can be a potential curative applicant for the prevention and treatment of tumors.

Korean Red Ginseng affects ovalbumin-induced asthma by modulating IL-12, IL-4, and IL-6 levels and the NF-κB/COX-2 and PGE2 pathways

“…Therefore, numerous studies have been conducted to identify safer and more effective anti-asthma drugs [ 4 , 8 , 13 , 17 , 18 , 28 ]. Korean Red Ginseng is known to affect various aspects of physiology, such as immunity [ 25 ], circulation [ 26 ], and inflammation [ 27 ], and diseases, such as allergy [ 28 ], cancer [ 29 ], metabolic diseases [ 30 ], and neurodegenerative diseases [ 31 ]. In asthma patient severe airway blockage was observed and this symptom was caused by airway remodeling which is related with epithelial cell and goblet cell hyperplasia, mucous hypersecretion by goblet cells, etc [ 3 , 4 ].…”

“…Korean Red Ginseng ( Panax ginseng Meyer) is one of important traditional medicines [ 24 ], and recent studies reported effects of ginseng compounds on physiological functions, including immunity [ 25 ], circulation [ 26 ], and inflammation [ 27 ], and diseases, such as allergies [ 28 ], cancer [ 29 ], metabolic diseases [ 30 ], and neurodegenerative diseases [ 31 ]. In the present study, therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action of Korean Red Ginseng were assessed using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model.…”

The Antitumor Effect of Heparin is not Mediated by Direct NK Cell Activation

“…Heparin has been used in clinics since 1935, mainly due to its anticoagulant activity [ 17 ]. Considering that heparin may be a ligand for stimulatory receptors on NK cells (NKp30, NKp44 and NKp46), and it is currently used for NK cell product manufacturing purposes [ 36 ], in addition to other polysaccharides with potential to stimulate NK cells [ 40 , 41 , 42 ], we evaluated the capacity of heparin to stimulate and increase killing capacity of NK cells.…”

Inhibitory Effects of Pectic Polysaccharide Isolated from Diospyros kaki Leaves on Tumor Cell Angiogenesis via VEGF and MMP-9 Regulation

“…However, some studies have examined their structure and pharmacological activities [ 11 ]. RG-I and RG-II isolated from natural products have been reported to possess pharmacological activities such as complement activating activity, stimulation of macrophages [ 14 ], bone marrow cell proliferation mediated by intestinal immune system [ 15 ], natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, including cytolytic activity against cancer cell lines [ 16 , 17 ], and anti-metastatic effects in vivo [ 18 , 19 ].…”