Abstract
Anti-proliferative effect of Ginseng Radix on human premyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) was investigated. The 70% methanol extract (RG-ext) of Red Ginseng (steamed and dried roots of Panax ginseng C. A. MEYER) had superior activity to that (WG-ext) of White Ginseng (peeled and dried root of P. ginseng). Among major saponins of Ginseng Radix, ginsenoside-Rc (G-Rc) and -Rb2 (G-Rb2) exhibited significant activity, but ginsenoside-Rb1 (G-Rb1), -Rg1 (G-Rg1), -Rg2 (G-Rg2) and -Ro (G-Ro) were ineffective. (20S)-Ginsenoside-Rg3 [(20S)-G-Rg3] formed by the processing of Red Ginseng from the crude root of P. ginseng showed remarkable activity. Based on the morphological changes and the pattern of DNA fragmentation, RG-ext, (20S)-G-Rg3, G-Rb2, and G-Rc were found to induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells. Additionally, the effect of (20S)-G-Rg3 was enhanced by treatment together with a water-soluble non-saponin fraction (RG-ext-W) obtained from RG-ext.
