Ginsenoside Rp1 from Panax ginseng exhibits anti-cancer activity by down-regulation of the IGF-1R/Akt pathway in breast cancer cells.

Abstract

Cancer prevention is effective and reduces health care costs because cancer is often a preventable disease that can be affected by lifestyle factors. Therefore, researchers are interested in discovering natural compounds that have anticancer activities, such as delaying the development of cancer and preventing its progression. One such natural agent is ginseng (Panax ginseng), which is traditionally used in some parts of the world as a popular remedy for various diseases including cancer. We hypothesized that the ginsenoside Rp1, a component of ginseng, reduces cancer cell proliferation through inhibition of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R)/Akt pathway. We first tested the efficacy of Rp1 against human breast cancer cell lines. Treatment with Rp1 inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation and inhibited both anchorage-dependent and -independent breast cancer cell colony formation. In addition, treatment with 20 μM Rp1 induced cycle arrest and apoptosis-mediated cell growth suppression. Our findings further indicated that Rp1 decreased the stability of the IGF-1R protein in breast cancer cells. Therefore, we suggest that Rp1 has potential as an anticancer drug and that IGF-1R is an important target for treatment and prevention of breast cancer.

• Authors: Ju-Hee Kang, Ki-Hoon Song, Jong-Kyu Woo, Myung Hwan Park, Man Hee Rhee, Changsun Choi, Seung Hyun Oh
• Journal: Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands) (Plant Foods Hum Nutr) Vol. 66 Issue 3 Pg. 298-305 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 1573-9104 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 21748437 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Ginsenosides
• Plant Extracts
• ginsenoside Rp1
• Receptor, IGF Type 1
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Cell Cycle (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Down-Regulation
• Female
• Ginsenosides (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Panax (chemistry)
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt (metabolism)
• Receptor, IGF Type 1 (metabolism)