Fermented Red Ginseng Extract Inhibits Cancer Cell Proliferation and Viability

Abstract

Red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is the most widely recognized medicinal herb due to its remedial effects in various disorders, such as cancers, diabetes, and heart problems. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effect of fermented red ginseng extract (f-RGE; provided by Jeonju Biomaterials Institute, Jeonju, South Korea) in a parallel comparison with the effect of nonfermented red ginseng extract (nf-RGE; control) on several cancer cell lines--MCF-7 breast cancer cells, HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and reprogrammed MCF-7 cells (mimicking cancer stem cells). Cells were cultured at various concentrations of RGE (from 0.5 up to 5 mg/mL) and their viabilities and proliferative properties were examined. Our data demonstrate the following: (1) nf-RGE inhibited cell viability at ≥1 mg/mL for MCF-7 cells and ≥2 mg/mL for HepG2 cells, (2) in the presence of a carcinogenic agent, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), nf-RGE treatment in combination with paclitaxel synergistically decreased MCF-7 as well as HepG2 cell viability, (3) f-RGE (which contained a greater level of Rg3 content) more effectively decreased the viability of MCF-7 and HepG2 cells compared to nf-RGE, and (4) f-RGE appeared more potent for inhibiting cancerous differentiation of reprogrammed MCF-7 cells in a synergistic fashion with paclitaxel, especially in the presence of TPA, compared to nf-RGE. These findings suggest that f-RGE treatment may be more effective for decreasing cancer cell survival by inducing apoptotic cell death and also presumably for preventing cancer stem cell differentiation compared to nf-RGE.

Suppression of Nrf2 Activity by Chestnut Leaf Extract Increases Chemosensitivity of Breast Cancer Stem Cells to Paclitaxel

“…To test the cytotoxicity of each extract, a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8; Dojindo Laboratories, Kumamoto, Japan) was used as previously described [ 25 ]. Cells were treated with various concentrations of the chestnut leaf extract or an anti-cancer substance or both, paclitaxel (Taxol), followed by incubation for 48 h. The CCK-8 assay was performed as per manufacturer’s instructions.…”

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of 2, 7-dihydroxy-4, 6-dimethoxy phenanthrene isolated from Dioscorea batatas Decne

“…To test the cytotoxicity of DDP, a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8; Dojindo Laboratories, Kumamoto, Japan) was used as previously described [20]. Cells were treated with various concentrations of DDP followed by incubation for 24 h. The absorbance, which is proportional to the number of living cells in each well, was measured at 450 nm using a microplate reader (Sunrise ™ , Tecan Group Ltd., Männedorf, Switzerland).…”

Fermentation of Danggui Buxue Tang, an ancient Chinese herbal mixture, together with Lactobacillus plantarum enhances the anti-diabetic functions of herbal product

“…Indeed, microorganisms have been employed in fermenting TCM, e.g. probiotic was used to ferment Scutellaria Radix [24], Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma [25] and red ginseng [26]. To improve the e cacy of DBT in ghting against diabetes, we developed a fermentation process of herbal extract together with Lactobacillus plantarum, a Gram-positive Lactobacillus, commonly found in fermented food products [27].…”