Steamed Ginseng-Leaf Components Enhance Cytotoxic Effects on Human Leukemia HL-60 Cells

Abstract

Three new dammarane-type glycosides, named ginsenosides SL₁—SL₃ (1—3), and eleven known compounds (4—14) were isolated from the heat-processed leaves of Panax ginseng. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive chemical and spectroscopic methods. Cytotoxic-activity testing of compounds 1—14 against human leukemia HL-60 cells showed that ginsenosides Rh₃ (11) and Rk₂ (12) exhibited potent effects with IC₅₀ values of 0.8 and 0.9 μM. In addition, ginsenosides SL₃ (3), 20S-Rg₂ (7), F₄ (10), 20S-Rh₂ (13) displayed strong activity with IC₅₀ values of 9.0, 9.0, 7.5, and 8.2 μM, respectively. This is the first report on chemical components of the steamed ginseng leaves.