Anticancer Potential of Black Ginseng Extract in a Breast Cancer Cell Xenograft Mouse Model.

Background/aim: This study evaluated the potential of black ginseng extract (BGE) for breast cancer prevention and treatment. Specifically, the effects of BGE on the proliferation of human breast cancer cells and the growth of solid breast tumors in mice were investigated.

Materials And Methods: The antitumor efficacy of BGE was assessed by evaluating its cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells , MDA-MB-231 cell xenograft nude mice were treated orally with BGE, and tumor volume, weight, and size, as well as body weight, were analyzed.

Antistress effect of red ginseng in brain cells is mediated by TACE repression via PADI4.

Ginseng is known to have antistress effects. Previously, red ginseng (RG) was shown to repress stress-induced peptidyl arginine deiminase type IV (PADI4) via estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in the brain, thus inhibiting brain cell apoptosis. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α plays a critical role in immobilization (IMO) stress.

Anti-oxidative stress effect of red ginseng in the brain is mediated by peptidyl arginine deiminase type IV (PADI4) repression via estrogen receptor (ER) β up-regulation.

Aim Of The Study: Ginseng has been used as an anti-stress agent, and its active ingredient, ginsenoside, is similar in structure to estrogen. However, the effect of ginseng on the stressed brain is not completely understood. The aim of this study is to understand systematically how red ginseng (RG) affects gene expressions in the brain of immobilization (IMO) stressed mice to elucidate its underlying mechanism.

Botanical characteristics, pharmacological effects and medicinal components of Korean Panax ginseng C A Meyer.

Korean Panax ginseng C A Meyer is mainly used to maintain the homeostasis of the body, and the pharmacological efficacy of Korean ginseng identified by modern science includes improved brain function, pain-relieving effects, preventive effects against tumors as well as anti-tumor activity, enhanced immune system function, anti-diabetic effects, enhanced liver function, adjusted blood pressure, anti-fatigue and anti-stress effects, improved climacteric disorder and sexual functions, as well as anti-oxidative and anti-aging effects. Further clinical studies of these pharmacological efficacies will continue to be carried out. Korean ginseng is found to have such main properties as ginsenoside, ployacetylene, acid polysaccharide, anti-oxidative aromatic compound, and insulin-like acid peptides.