Inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on ovarian cancer metastasis

• Published in: Chinese medical journal Vol. 121; no. 15; pp. 1394 - 1397
• Main Authors: Xu, Tian-Min, Cui, Man-Hua, Xin, Ying, Gu, Li-Ping, Jiang, Xin, Su, Man-Man, Wang, Ding-Ding, Wang, Wen-Jia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, China%Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education and Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China%Department of Radiotherapy, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, China%The Institute of Infrontier Medical Sciences of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, China%Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science and Biopharmacology, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China 05.08.2008
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Female; Ginsenosides - pharmacology; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - prevention & control; Lung Neoplasms - secondary; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - metabolism; Mice; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neovascularization, Pathologic - prevention & control; Ovarian Neoplasms - drug therapy; Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology; 人参皂苷; 卵巢癌; 血管发生; neoplasm; ginseng; metastasis; ovarian cancer; angiogenesis
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641
• DOI: 10.1097/00029330-200808010-00012

Background Ginsenosides are main components extracted from ginseng, and ginsenoside Rg3 is one of the most important parts. Ginsenoside Rg3 has been found to inhibit several kinds of tumor growth and metastasis. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on human ovarian cancer metastasis and the possible mechanism. Methods The experimental lung metastasis models of ovarian cancer SKOV-3 and the assay of tumor-induced angiogenesis were used to observe the inhibitory effects of Rg3 on tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. The effect of Rg3 on invasive ability of SKOV-3 cells in vitro was detected by Boyden chamber, and immunofluorescence staining was used to recognize the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 （MMP-9） in SKOV-3 cells. Results In the experimental lung metastasis models of ovarian cancer, the number of tumor colonies in the lung and vessels oriented toward the tumor mass in each ginsenoside Rg3 group, was lower than that of control group. The invasive ability and MMP-9 expression of SKOV-3 cells decreased significantly after treatment with ginsenoside Rg3. Conclusions Ginsenoside Rg3 can significantly inhibit the metastasis of ovarian cancer. The inhibitory effect is partially due to inhibition of tumor-induced an qioqenesis and decrease of invasive ability and MMP-9 expression of SKOV-3 cells.