Abstract
In order to elucidate the cytotoxicity-structure correlation of ginseng-derived components, several prosapogenins and sapogenins were prepared from Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) saponins by acid hydrolysis or alkaline cleveage, and their chemical structures were identified by a combination of spectral and physical methods. Some of these degradation products showed the cytotoxic activities against various cancer cell lines, A549, SK-OV-3, SK-Mel-2, P388, L 1210 and K562. The significant difference in cytotoxicity between stereoisomers was not found and the activity was inversely proportional to the number of sugars linked to sapogenins. Diol-type prosapogenins and sapogenins showed higher cytotoxicity than triol-type ones.
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Baek, NI., Kim, D.S., Lee, Y.H. et al. Cytotoxicities of ginseng saponins and their degradation products against some cancer cell lines. Arch. Pharm. Res. 18, 164–168 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02979189
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02979189