Open AccessThe Anticancer Activity and Mechanisms of Ginsenosides: An Updated Review
Author(s) -
Chen Hongwei,
Yang Haixia,
Fan Daidi,
Deng Jianjun
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
efood
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2666-3066
DOI - 10.2991/efood.k.200512.001
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer , pharmacology , cancer cell , lung cancer , colorectal cancer , breast cancer , nitric oxide , cancer research , oncology
The annual global mortality rate of cancer has increased dramatically. Although various therapies are used for cancer, the results have not been satisfactory. Chemotherapy is currently the most common treatment option. However, serious side effects and drug resistance impede the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. Increasing evidence has shown that ginsenosides as a type of phytochemicals play an important role in the prevention and treatment of cancers, such as colon cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, esophageal cancer, and bone cancer. Ginsenosides block a variety of enzymes required for tumor growth, which regulate an array of cell progression, such as nitric oxide synthase activity, protein kinase activity, epidermal growth factor receptor intrinsic kinase activity, and nuclear factor‐kappaB activity. Ginsenosides also inhibit lipid peroxidation and the production of reactive oxygen species. Thus, ginsenosides can be used as an adjuvant to conventional cancer therapies to improve efficacy and/or reduce side effects through synergistic activity. In this review, we summarized the latest research advances of the anticancer effects of ginsenosides and their potential mechanisms.