Novel ginsenoside derivative 20(S)-Rh2E2 suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in vivo and in vitro via intervention of cancer cell energy metabolism

Cell Death Dis. 2020 Aug 14;11(8):621. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-02881-4.

Abstract

Increased energy metabolism is responsible for supporting the abnormally upregulated proliferation and biosynthesis of cancer cells. The key cellular energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the glycolytic enzyme alpha-enolase (α-enolase) have been identified as the targets for active components of ginseng. Accordingly, ginseng or ginsenosides have been demonstrated with their potential values for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer via the regulation of energy balance. Notably, our previous study demonstrated that the R-form derivative of 20(R)-Rh2, 20(R)-Rh2E2 exhibits specific and potent anti-tumor effect via suppression of cancer energy metabolism. However, the uncertain pharmacological effect of S-form derivative, 20(S)-Rh2E2, the by-product during the synthesis of 20(R)-Rh2E2 from parental compound 20(R/S)-Rh2 (with both R- and S-form), retarded the industrialized production, research and development of this novel effective candidate drug. In this study, 20(S)-Rh2E2 was structurally modified from pure 20(S)-Rh2, and this novel compound was directly compared with 20(R)-Rh2E2 for their in vitro and in vivo antitumor efficacy. Results showed that 20(S)-Rh2E2 effectively inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in a lung xenograft mouse model. Most importantly, animal administrated with 20(S)-Rh2E2 up to 320 mg/kg/day survived with no significant body weight lost or observable toxicity upon 7-day treatment. In addition, we revealed that 20(S)-Rh2E2 specifically suppressed cancer cell energy metabolism via the downregulation of metabolic enzyme α-enolase, leading to the reduction of lactate, acetyl-coenzyme (acetyl CoA) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in Lewis lung cancer cells (LLC-1), but not normal cells. These findings are consistent to the results obtained from previous studies using a similar isomer 20(R)-Rh2E2. Collectively, current results suggested that 20(R/S)-Rh2E2 isomers could be the new and safe anti-metabolic agents by acting as the tumor metabolic suppressors, which could be generated from 20(R/S)-Rh2 in industrialized scale with low cost.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenylate Kinase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Respiration / drug effects
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / metabolism
  • Cyclins / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects*
  • Ginsenosides / chemistry
  • Ginsenosides / pharmacology*
  • Glycolysis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / metabolism
  • S Phase / drug effects
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Stathmin / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cyclins
  • Ginsenosides
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins
  • Stathmin
  • ginsenoside Rh2 20,24-epoxide
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
  • Adenylate Kinase
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase