Ginseng consumption and risk of cancer: A meta-analysis

Abstract

BackgroundThe findings of currently available studies are not consistent with regard to the association between the risk of cancer and ginseng consumption. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate this association by conducting a meta-analysis of different studies.MethodsTo systematically evaluate the effect of ginseng consumption on cancer incidence, six databases were searched, including PubMed, Ovid Technologies, Embase, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese VIP Information, from 1990 to 2014. Statistical analyses based on the protocol employed for a systematic review were conducted to calculate the summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsWe identified nine studies, including five cohort studies, three case-control studies, and one randomized controlled trial, evaluating the association between ginseng consumption and cancer risk; these studies involved 7,436 cases and 334,544 participants. The data from the meta-analysis indicated a significant 16% lower risk of developing cancer in patients who consumed ginseng (RR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.76–0.92), with evidence of heterogeneity (p = 0.0007, I2 = 70%). Stratified analyses suggested that the significant heterogeneity may result from the incidence data for gastric cancer that were included in this study. Publication bias also showed the same result as the stratified analyses. In addition, subgroup analyses for four specific types of cancer (colorectal cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, and liver cancer) were also performed. The summary RRs for ginseng intake versus no ginseng consumption were 0.77 for lung cancer, 0.83 for gastric cancer, 0.81 for liver cancer, and 0.77 for colorectal cancer.ConclusionThe findings of this meta-analysis indicated that ginseng consumption is associated with a significantly decreased risk of cancer and that the effect is not organ specific.

Bioactivity-guided isolation of ginsenosides from Korean Red Ginseng with cytotoxic activity against human lung adenocarcinoma cells

“…The anticancer potential of KRG has been demonstrated in various types of human cancer, including prostate, liver, colon, and breast cancer, both in vitr o and in vivo [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] . In addition, long-term treatment with KRG extract and its less polar ginsenosides Rg3 and Rg5 was shown to reduce the incidence of benzo(a)pyrene–induced lung tumors in mice [17] .…”

Pinecone of Pinus koraiensis Inducing Apoptosis in Human Lung Cancer Cells by Activating Caspase‐3 and its Chemical Constituents

“…In this study, we examined the antiproliferative effects of P. koraiensis pinecone water extract in human lung adenocarcinoma cells in order to experimentally validate its anticancer activity. Natural products play an important role in anticancer drug discovery and a large number of natural products have been proven to have potential anticancer effects . It is worth emphasizing, however, that one of the compounds identified in the pinecone water extract (4‐hydroxy‐benzoic acid) has also demonstrated estrogenic activity and increases the proliferation of human breast cancer cells .…”

Red ginseng monograph

“…Besides its functions as a health functional food, diverse effects of red ginseng have been elucidated in both cells and animals and have been proven in clinical trials as well. In recent years, based on clinical research, the effects of ginseng including red ginseng have been evaluated through systematic examinations and meta-analyses of the improvement of blood glucose levels [83] , health of menopausal women [84] , erectile dysfunction (ED) [85] , and anticancer an effect [86] . The major effects of red ginseng, besides those functions certified by the KFDA, and recent clinical studies related to quality of life are as follows:…”