Total ginsenosides of Chinese ginseng induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in colorectal carcinoma HT‑29 cells

Abstract

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the most frequent malignant disease of the gastrointestinal tract and it has a poor prognosis. The current treatment options for CRC are far from optimal; they have limited efficacy and toxic effects. Chinese ginseng (the dried root of ) is a medicinal herb, of which ginsenosides are the most effective anticancer component. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-CRC effect of total ginsenosides of Chinese ginseng (TGCG), by analyzing the cellular and molecular pathways. This was done via MTT assay, morphological observation (DAPI staining), flow cytometry for cell cycle and apoptosis analyses, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The results revealed that TGCG inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis in HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of, and and the protein expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) 2, Cdk4, Cyclin D1, Bax, p21, p27, c-Myc, p15, and p53 were revealed to be modulated by TGCG in HT-29 cells, and are all factors associated with DNA damage, cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis. In conclusion, TGCG induced cell cycle arrest at the G/G and G/M phases and induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells through the c-Myc- and p53-mediated signaling pathways, possibly in response to DNA damage. Therefore, TGCG may be regarded a promising candidate for development as an anticancer agent for the treatment of CRC.

Panax ginseng modulates oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, and inflammations induced by silicon dioxide nanoparticles in rats

“…Moreover, ginseng exerted its beneficial and antioxidant impacts by inhibiting the release of oxidative stress‐induced DNA damage, 81 protecting sphingolipid metabolism 82 and reduce the metabolites of arachidonic acid 83 . Furthermore, ginseng extract affects the cell cycle phases in cancer cells, rather than normal cells as ginsenoside arrested cell cycle of colorectal cancer cells at G0/G1 and G2/M phases through modulation of Wnt/β‐catenin, PI3K/Akt, and NFκB signaling pathways 84 . Zeng and Tu 85 found that Ginsenoside may reduce telomerase activity and arresting cell cycle progression.…”

“…83 Furthermore, ginseng extract affects the cell cycle phases in cancer cells, rather than normal cells as ginsenoside arrested cell cycle of colorectal cancer cells at G0/G1 and G2/M phases through modulation of Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, and NFκB signaling pathways. 84 Zeng and Tu 85 found that Ginsenoside may reduce telomerase activity and arresting cell cycle progression. The down-regulation of telomerase activity in SMMC-7721 cells may be associated with Ginsenoside -induced differentiations which were found to be tended to normal.…”

Participation of MicroRNAs in the Treatment of Cancer with Phytochemicals

“…Ginsenosides (G), such as G-Rd and G-Rh2, have been shown to possess anti-cancer properties through stimulating apoptosis, facilitating cell differentiation, and repressing cancer stemness, as well as angiogenesis [ 204 , 205 , 206 ]. Moreover, the association between ginsenosides and oncogenic miRNAs has been reported.…”

Lipid Membranes as Key Targets for the Pharmacological Actions of Ginsenosides

“…Total ginsenosides of Chinese ginseng (50 µg/ml for 24 h) showed capacity to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis on colorectal carcinoma HT-29 cells (Li et al, 2018). Studies on individual ginsenosides revealed the anticarcinogenic effects resulted from different mechanisms including anti-angiogenic effects (Yue et al, 2006;Yue et al, 2007) which lead to inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis (Nag et al, 2012).…”