Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparative studies of the antiproliferative effects of ginseng polysaccharides on HT-29 human colon cancer cells

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Medical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ginseng polysaccharide has anticancer activity. However, the structure–activity relationship and the activity mechanism are still unclear. Therefore, it is necessary to study the anticancer activity of structurally different ginseng polysaccharide fractions and their potential mechanisms. Ginseng polysaccharide fractions and their temperature-modified products were assayed for their effects on HT-29 cell proliferation by MTT assay, on cell cycle progression by flow cytometry, and on caspase-3 activation by western blot analysis. The HG-rich ginseng pectin inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. The temperature-modified HG-rich pectin had dramatically increased antiproliferative effect and induced apoptosis accompanied by the activation of caspase-3. Starch-like glucan and arabinogalactan of ginseng exhibited no antiproliferative effects. Even after temperature modification, their inhibitory effects either remained unchanged or increased slightly. The HG-rich pectin exerts its antiproliferative effect via cell cycle arrest and the temperature modification markedly increased the antiproliferative effect.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Helms S. Cancer prevention and therapeutics: panax ginseng. Altern Med Rev. 2004;9:259–74.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Choi KT. Botanical characteristics, pharmacological effects and medicinal components of korean panax ginseng C A Meyer. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2008;29:1109–18.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Lee YS, et al. Activation of multiple effector pathways of immune system by the antineoplastic immunostimulator acidic polysaccharide ginsan isolated from panax ginseng. Anticancer Res. 1997;17:323–31.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kim KH, et al. Acidic polysaccharide from panax ginseng, ginsan, induces Th1 cell and macrophage cytokines and generates LAK cells in synergy with rIL-2. Planta Med. 1998;64:110–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Shin HJ, et al. A further study on the inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis by red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP). Nat Prod Sci. 2004;10:284–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Shin MJ, et al. Enhancement of antitumor effects of paclitaxel (taxol) in combination with red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP). Planta Med. 2004;70:1033–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. King ML, Murphy LL. Role of cyclin inhibitor protein p21 in the inhibition of HCT116 human colon cancer cell proliferation by american ginseng (panax quinquefolius) and its constituents. Phytomedicine. 2010;17:261–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhang X, et al. Total fractionation and characterization of the water-soluble polysaccharides isolated from panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. Carbohydr Polym. 2009;77:544–52.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kim WY, et al. Steaming of ginseng at high temperature enhances biological activity. J Nat Prod. 2000;63:1702–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kim HY, Kang KS, Yamabe N, Yokozawa T. Comparison of the effects of korean ginseng and heat-processed korean ginseng on diabetic oxidative stress. Am J Chin Med. 2008;36:989–1004.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wang CZ, et al. Chemopreventive effects of heat-processed panax quinquefolius root on human breast cancer cells. Anticancer Res. 2008;28:2545–51.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Xie JT, et al. In vitro and in vivo anticancer effects of american ginseng berry: exploring representative compounds. Biol Pharm Bull. 2009;32:1552–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Wang CZ, Zhang B, Song WX, Wang A, Ni M, Luo X, et al. Steamed American ginseng berry: ginsenoside analyses and anticancer activities. J Agric Food Chem. 2006;54:9936–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Jackson CL, et al. Pectin induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells: correlation of apoptotic function with pectin structure. Glycobiology. 2007;17:805–19.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Riccardi C, Nicoletti I. Analysis of apoptosis by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. Nat Protoc. 2006;1:1458–61.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Liu LS, Fishman ML, Kost J, Hicks KB. Pectin-based systems for colon-specific rug delivery via oral route. Biomaterials. 2003;24:3333–43.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Cameron IL, Hardman WE, Heitman DW, Carter JW. Dietary fibre on cell proliferation in large bowel mucosal crypts near or away from lymphoid nodules and on mineral bioavailability. Cell Prolif. 2000;33:367–79.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Olano-Martin E, Rimbach GH, Gibson GR, Rastall RA. Pectin and pectic-oligosaccharides induce apoptosis in in vitro human colonic adenocarcinoma cells. Anticancer Res. 2003;23:341–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Reed JC, Pellecchia M. Apoptosis-based therapies for hematologic malignancies. Blood. 2005;106:408–18.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wu WY, Guo HZ, Qu GQ, Han J, Guo DA. Mechanisms of pseudolaric Acid B-induced apoptosis in bel-7402 cell lines. Am J Chin Med. 2006;34:887–99.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30570417, No. 30973857) and the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province (No. 20070710).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, 5268 Renmin Street, 130024, Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China

    Hairong Cheng, Shanshan Li, Yuying Fan, Xiaoge Gao, Miao Hao, Jia Wang, Xiaoyan Zhang, Guihua Tai & Yifa Zhou

Authors
  1. Hairong Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shanshan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yuying Fan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xiaoge Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Miao Hao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jia Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xiaoyan Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Guihua Tai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Yifa Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Guihua Tai or Yifa Zhou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cheng, H., Li, S., Fan, Y. et al. Comparative studies of the antiproliferative effects of ginseng polysaccharides on HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Med Oncol 28, 175–181 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-010-9449-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-010-9449-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation