Mechanistic insight into the ability of American ginseng to suppress colon cancer associated with colitis

Kim

et al. 2011

Biotechnol Bioproc E

Many classes of bioactive drug-like molecules derived from traditional herbal plants are becoming attractive as alternative medicines for the treatment of severe chronic diseases such as cancer and obesity. A set of chemically synthesized drugs that is capable of both inhibiting cancer growth and reducing body weight for treatment of obesity have severe side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea as well as producing increased blood pressure and headache, respectively. For decades, drug candidates from herbal plants have been considered as potential therapeutic agents because they are generally safer, less toxic, and have fewer lethal side effects than chemically synthesized or semi-synthetic drugs. Understanding the key factors affecting pharmacological effects and clinical outcomes has been a critical theme of natural product research. However, standardized sample preparation methods, well-controlled scientific studies, and validation studies are needed before herbal therapeutics can be introduced into the global market. This review will address the current advances in using traditional herbal plants, including the pharmacological effects and the challenges faced during the development of new drugs. The safety issues associated with toxicity and the effectiveness of the herbs in specific diseases such as cancer and obesity are also discussed.

Section: Anti-colon Cancer Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential agents for cancer and obesity treatment with herbal medicines from the green garden

Kim

et al. 2011

Biotechnol Bioproc E

“…The chemopreventative properties of ginseng appear to be mediated by both its anti-inflammatory and growth suppressive effects (18, 19, 21), which in large part requires the conversion of saponin ginsenoside compounds, notably Rb1, to the bioactive factor, compound K. The conversion is dependent on intestinal microbial glycosidase activity that removes sugars of the backbone ring structure, leading to compound K generation (22–24). Compound K is more readily absorbed and has direct effects in inducing apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells (25, 26).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daikenchuto (TU‐100) Suppresses Tumor Development in the Azoxymethane and APC^min/+ Mouse Models of Experimental Colon Cancer

Hasebe

Matsukawa

Ringus

et al. 2016

Phytotherapy Research

Chemopreventative properties of traditional medicines, Kampo and underlying mechanisms of action have not been well explored. This study demonstrates that daikenchuto (TU-100), comprised of ginger, ginseng, and Japanese pepper (50/30/20 by weight), effectively suppresses development and progression of intestinal tumors in the azoxymethane (AOM) and the APCmin/+ mouse models. TU-100 was included in the diet. TU-100 was provided after first of 6, biweekly AOM injections, mice sacrificed at 30 weeks. APCmin/+ mice were fed without or with TU-100 starting at 6 weeks, sacrificed at 24 weeks. In both models, dietary TU-100 decreased tumor size. In the APC min/+ model, the number of small intestinal tumors was also significantly decreased, whereas in the AOM model, both TU-100 and Japanese ginseng decreased tumor numbers. TU-100 and ginseng decreased Ki67 and β-catenin immunostaining and activation of numerous transduction pathways involved in tumor initiation and progression. EGF receptor expression and stimulation/phosphorylation in vitro was investigated in Caco2BBE cells. TU-100, ginger, and 6-gingerol, but not ginseng, ginsenoside Rb1 and the bacterial metabolite compound K, nor Japanese pepper suppressed EGF receptor induced Akt activation. TU-100 and ginseng and to a lesser extent ginger or 6-gingerol, but not Japanese pepper, ginsenoside Rb1 or compound K inhibited EGF activation of ERK1/2. In conclusion, TU-100 and some of its components and metabolites inhibit tumor progression in two mouse models of colon cancer by blocking downstream pathways of EGF receptor activation.

“…4–6 American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius L.) is one of the most commonly used botanicals in the United States. 7, 8 Evidence indicated that ginseng not only has cancer prevention potential, 9, 10 but also has anti-inflammatory effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metabonomic Profiling Reveals Cancer Chemopreventive Effects of American Ginseng on Colon Carcinogenesis in Apc^Min/+ Mice

Xie

Wang

et al. 2015

J. Proteome Res.

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is one of the most commonly used herbal medicines in the West. It has been reported to possess significant antitumor effects that inhibit the process of carcinogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying its anticancer effects remain largely unresolved. In this study, we investigated the cancer chemopreventive effects of American ginseng on the progression of high fat (HF) diet-enhanced colorectal carcinogenesis with a genetically engineered ApcMin/+ mouse model. The metabolic alterations in sera of experimental mice perturbed by HF diet intervention as well as the American ginseng treatment were measured by gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) and liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOFMS) analysis. American ginseng treatment significantly extended the life span of the ApcMin/+ mouse. Significant alterations of metabolites involving amino acids, organic acids, fatty acids and carbohydrates were observed in ApcMin/+ mouse in sera, which were attenuated by American ginseng treatment and concurrent with the histopathological improvement with significantly reduced tumor initiation, progression and gut inflammation. These metabolic changes suggest that the preventive effect of American ginseng is associated with attenuation of impaired amino acid, carbohydrates and lipid metabolism. It also appears that American ginseng induced significant metabolic alterations independent of the ApcMin/+ induced metabolic changes. The significantly altered metabolites induced by American ginseng intervention include arachidonic acid, linolelaidic acid, glutamate, docosahexaenoate, tryptophan, and fructose, all of which are associated with inflammation and oxidation. This suggests that American ginseng exerts the chemopreventive effects by anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms.