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American ginseng and breast cancer therapeutic agents synergistically inhibit MCF‐7 breast cancer cell growth
Author(s) -
Duda Rosemary B.,
Zhong Ying,
Navas Vinicio,
Li Michael Z. C.,
Toy Brian R.,
Alavarez Juan G.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9098(199912)72:4<230::aid-jso9>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - mcf 7 , breast cancer , medicine , cell growth , ginseng , cell cycle , cancer research , cancer , cell , growth inhibition , oncology , flow cytometry , pharmacology , endocrinology , biology , immunology , pathology , biochemistry , human breast , alternative medicine
Background and Objectives American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius L. ) purportedly alleviates menopause symptoms because of putative estrogenicity. Methods Using a standardized American ginseng (AG) extract in MCF‐7 breast cancer cells, the objectives were to evaluate the ability of AG to induce the estrogen‐ regulated gene pS2 by Northern blot analysis, determine the effect on cell growth using the MTT assay, and evaluate the cell cycle effects by flow cytometry. Results AG and estradiol equivalently induced RNA expression of pS2. AG, in contrast to estradiol, caused a dose‐dependent decrease in cell proliferation ( P < 0.005). AG had no adverse effect on the cell cycle while estradiol significantly increased the proliferative phase (percent S‐phase) and decreased the resting phase (G 0 –G 1 phase) ( P < 0.005). Concurrent use of AG and breast cancer therapeutic agents resulted in a significant ( P < 0.005) suppression of cell growth for most drugs evaluated. Conclusions In vitro use of AG and breast cancer therapeutics synergistically inhibited cancer cell growth. J. Surg. Oncol. 1999;72:230–239. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.