PMC

Chemical structures of the assayed ginsenosides.

Antiproliferative effects of ginsenosides on SW-480 cells. Cancer cells were exposed to ginsenosides (30, 100, and 300 μM) for 72 h and cell proliferation was determined by the MTS assay. At the concentration of 300 μM, the antiproliferative effects of Rg3 were 99.0 ± 1.3%, respectively. The results are expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01 vs. control.

Antiproliferative effects of Asian ginseng root extract on HT-29 cells. Cancer cells were exposed to white ginseng and red ginseng extract (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1 mg/mL) for 72 h and cell proliferation was determined by the MTS assay. The results are expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. * p < 0.05, red ginseng vs. white ginseng.

HPLC analysis of ginsenosides in unsteamed and steamed American ginseng roots. Chromatograms of unsteamed (A), or steamed at 120 °C for 2 h (B) and 4 h (C) are shown. Ginsenoside peaks: (1) Rg1, (2) Re, (3) Rh1, (4) Rg2, (5) 20R-Rg2, (6) Rb1, (7) Rc, (8) Rb2, (9) Rb3, (10) Rd, (11) Rg3, (12) Rh2. Peak numbers are not shown if the saponins were not detected.

Antiproliferative effects of unsteamed and steamed (120 °C for 1 h or 2 h) American ginseng root extract on cancer cells determined by the MTS assay. Four doses (0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/mL) were used and the treatment time for SW-480 (A) and HT-29 (B) cells was 72 h; for NSCLC cells (C), it was 48 h. The results are expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments.