Pharmacological effects of ginseng on Cancer

The pharmacological effects of ginseng are mostly used therapeutically, ie, metabolites (such as ginsenosides) that affect a living system in order to treat a certain condition. There are several applications of ginsenosides in treatments of diseases and human conditions. Among them are anticancer effects, antidiabetics, antioxidants, among many others. 

Here are some areas where ginseng exerts its positive effects:

• Cancer

There are 3 basic advantages inherent in ginseng regarding cancer and its treatment. Ginseng helps prevent cancer, the growth of cancer cells, inhibits the creation of metastases and reduces the side effects of chemotherapy.

1. Prevention of Cancer and Inhibition of Growth of Cancer Cells - It has been found that ginsenosides Rg3 and Rg5 demonstrate the greatest preventative ability relative to cancer cells. One explanation for this is that attenuation of lipid peroxidation and the ability to scavenge super oxide. It has also been shown that the preventive effect is not specific in terms of organs (Yun, 2003; Choi, 2008). A study carried out at Korea Cancer Center Hospital showed that people who consume ginseng in the form of normal and white ginseng extract, white ginseng powder or red ginseng products are less likely to have cancer than those who do not consume. The effect was more efficient in cancer of the lips, oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, liver, larynx, lungs, pancreas and ovaries; and increasing the frequency and duration of ginseng intake decreased the risk. It was also found that smokers who consumed ginseng showed lower odds than smokers who did not consume. (Yun and Choi, 1995);
2. Inhibition of creation of metastases - G-Rg3 and G-Rb2 lead to inhibition of metastasis formation and adhesion and invasion of tumor cells (Mochizuki et al., 1995);
3. Reducing Side Effects of Chemotherapy - Some tumor cells gain the ability to resist drugs used in chemotherapy, a process known as Multi Drug Resistance (MDR). MDR may arise due to the formation of the P-Glycoprotein (Pgp-MDR) protein which, at high concentrations, removes chemotherapeutic agents from the cell in which it was produced. In their study, Jong-Dae Park et. Al (1996) found that ginsenosides such as Rg2, Rg3, Rh1, Rh2 and Rh3 (with Rg3 having the greatest effect) demonstrate an inhibition to the resistance to drugs by the cells that contain P-glycoprotein (Park et al. , 1996).

Bibliography 

Choi, K. Botanical characteristics , pharmacological effects and medicinal components of Korean Panax ginseng C A Meyer. 2008, 9: 1109–1118

Mochizuki M, Yoo YC, Matsuzawa K, Sato K, Saiki I, Tono-oka S, et al. Inhibitory effect of tumor metastasis in mice by saponins, ginsenosideRb2, 20(R)- and 20(S)-ginsenoside-Rg3, of red ginseng. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 1995, 18: 1197–1202

Park JD, Kim DS, Kwon HY, Son SK, Lee YH, Baek NI, et al. Effects of Ginseng Saponin on Modulation of Muitidrug Resistance. 1996, 19(3): 213–218

Yun TK, Choi SY. Preventive Effect of Ginseng A Case-Control Intake against Various Human Study on 1987 Pairs1 Cancers. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. 1995, 4: 401-408

Yun, T. Experimental and epidemiological evidence on non-organ specific cancer preventive effect of Korean ginseng and identification of active compounds. 2003, 524: 63–74