Cancer chemoprevention by ginseng in mouse liver and other organs

J Korean Med Sci. 2001 Dec;16 Suppl(Suppl):S66-9. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2001.16.S.S66.

Abstract

Oral administration of red ginseng extracts (1% in diet for 40 weeks) resulted in the significant suppression of spontaneous liver tumor formation in C3H/He male mice. Average number of tumors per mouse in control group was 1.06, while that in red ginseng extracts-treated group was 0.33 (p<0.05). Incidence of liver tumor development was also lower in red ginseng extracts-treated group, although the difference from control group was not statistically significant. Anti-carcinogenic activity of white ginseng extracts, besides red ginseng extracts, was also investigated. In the present study, the administration of white ginseng extracts was proven to suppress tumor promoter-induced phenomena in vitro and in vivo. It is of interest that oral administration of the extracts of Ren-Shen-Yang- Rong-Tang, a white ginseng-containing Chinese medicinal prescription, resulted in the suppression of skin tumor promotion by 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-initiated CD-1 mice. These results suggest the usefulness of ginseng in the field of cancer prevention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Panax*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Roots
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Plant Extracts