Cisplatin's tumoricidal effect on human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells was not attenuated by American ginseng

Abstract

Purpose: We previously observed that American ginseng berry and ginsenoside Re attenuated cisplatin-induced emesis in a rat model, suggesting that the herb may have a value in treating chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting. However, it is not clear whether consuming ginseng concurrently with chemotherapy affects the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we explored if the ginseng extract and its constituents, ginsenosides Rb1, Rb3, and Re, alter tumoricidal activity of cisplatin in human cancer cells.

Methods: Tumoricidal effects of cisplatin, and/or American ginseng berry extract (AGBE) and ginsenosides Rb1, Rb3, and Re, on human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells were measured as cell proliferation in vitro. Cell counts were performed in MCF-7 cells pretreated with test agents for 72 h.

Results: Cisplatin decreased MCF-7 cell proliferation significantly in a concentration-dependent manner. Compared to control group, cisplatin reduced the cell proliferations to 56.5+/-3.3% at 1 microg/ml, to 36.6+/-2.4% at 5 microg/ml, and to 26.9+/-2.4% at 15 microg/ml (P<0.01). AGBE also inhibited the cell proliferation significantly, although in a less extended manner. When the berry extract at 0.5 mg/ml was used with cisplatin at 1 microg/ml, a significant enhancement of cisplatin's activity was observed (35.8+/-2.5%; P<0.05). We also observed that Rb1 did not change cisplatin's activity; Rb3, at a higher concentration, increased cisplatin's anti-proliferation activity (48.0+/-1.2%; P<0.05); Re increased cisplatin's activity (Re 0.1 mg/ml, 48.0+/-2.8%; Re 0.3 mg/ml, 31.9+/-2.2%, P<0.01).

Conclusion: Our data suggest that AGBE and the tested ginsenosides do not attenuate cisplatin's tumoricidal activity in MCF-7 cells, but in fact may actually enhance it. Additionally, the ginseng extract and ginsenoside Re by themselves exerted anti-proliferative activity against MCF-7 cells. The herb might potentially serve a complementary role with the chemotherapeutic agents in treating cancer, in addition to decreasing chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting.

Fig. 1

Chromatogram of American ginseng berry extract using HPLC analysis. Chromatographic conditions were described in Sect. ‘Materials and methods’. The peaks of ginsenoside Rb1, Rb3, and Re are indicated. Chemical structures of these three ginsenosides are also shown

Fig. 2

Anti-proliferation effects of cisplatin and American ginseng berry extract on MCF-7 carcinoma cells after 72 h treatment. Control is normalized to 100%. **, P<0.01, compared to control. Cisp cisplatin, AGBE American ginseng berry extract

Fig. 3

Additive effects of American ginseng berry extract on cisplatin's anti-proliferation activity in MCF-7 carcinoma cells. *, P<0.05, compared to cisplatin alone. Cisp cisplatin, AGBE American ginseng berry extract

Fig. 4

Effects of ginsenosides Rb1, Rb3, and Re on cisplatin's anti-proliferation activity in MCF-7 carcinoma cells. *, P<0.05, and **, P<0.01, compared to cisplatin alone. Cisp cisplatin