Inflammation, Cancer, and Targets of Ginseng

Abstract

Chronic inflammation is associated with a high cancer risk. At the molecular level, free radicals and aldehydes, produced during chronic inflammation, can induce deleterious gene mutation and posttranslational modifications of key cancer-related proteins. Other products of inflammation, including cytokines, growth factors, and transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappaB, control the expression of cancer genes (e.g., suppressor genes and oncogenes) and key inflammatory enzymes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. These enzymes in turn directly influence reactive oxygen species and eicosanoid levels. The procancerous outcome of chronic inflammation is increased DNA damage, increased DNA synthesis, cellular proliferation, disruption of DNA repair pathways and cellular milieu, inhibition of apoptosis, and promotion of angiogenesis and invasion. Chronic inflammation is also associated with immunosuppression, which is a risk factor for cancer. Current treatment strategies for reactive species overload diseases are frequently aimed at treating or preventing the cause of inflammation. Although these strategies have led to some progress in combating reactive species overload diseases and associated cancers, exposure often occurs again after eradication, treatment to eradicate the cause fails, or the treatment has long-term side effects. Therefore, the identification of molecules and pathways involved in chronic inflammation and cancer is critical to the design of agents that may help in preventing the progression of reactive species overload disease and cancer associated with disease progression. Here, we use ginseng as an example of an antiinflammatory molecule that targets many of the key players in the inflammation-to-cancer sequence.

The advantages of using traditional Chinese medicine as an adjunctive therapy in the whole course of cancer treatment instead of only terminal stage of cancer

“…Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Ginseng Radix and its active constituents have antitumor, antioxidant, immunomodulation, anti-ulcer, anti-adhesive, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic activities, and so on (17). They have been proposed to have a chemopreventive effect on lung, gastric, liver, pancreas, and colon cancers and so on in cells, animals or humans (17)(18)(19)). An epidemiological study indicated that patients taking ginseng had a 50% lower risk of cancer recurrence compared to patients not taking ginseng (12).…”

Protection by Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer against the genotoxicity of doxorubicin in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

“…Ginseng extract significantly decreases DNA synthesis and increases the rate of DNA excision repair synthesis in V79 Chinese hamster lung cells (Rhee et al, 1991), in addition to its ability to attenuate inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis (Hofseth and Wargovich, 2007). These mechanisms can reduce tumor growth and improve the prognosis in cancer patients (Wang et al, 2007).…”

Preventive and Therapeutic Roles of Ginseng - Focus on Colon Cancer

“…Studies have shown that ginseng plays a role in inflammation reduction and thereby reduces the risk of cancer (Keum et al, 2003;Hofseth and Wargovich 2007). In another study it was shown that the anticancer effect of steamed ginseng is enhanced with antioxidants .…”