Antitumor Activities Of Ginsenoside YR-1 From Panax Ginseng

OBJECTIVE: This study conducted an initial probe of the inhibiting effect of ginsenoside YR-1 on tumor growth and the activity of macrophage and natural killer cell in tumor-bearing mice. And we defined the cross effect between YR-1 and the conventional chemotherapy drugs such as DDP, CTX, VP-16, EPI, and TAX. METHODS: The models of inoculated sarcoma 180 or hepatoma H22 in mice was prepared to observe the antitumor activity of YR-1 and used gallinaceous erythrocytes and the neutral red powders to determinate the phagocytic function of macrophage. The effects of YR-1 on the NK cell activation in tumor-bearing mice were tested by modified MTT assay. We defined the cross effect and the optimal dose combination by using orthogonal design and factorial design. RESULTS: YR-1 inhibited the growth of tumor in mice, and the phagocytic function of macrophage and activation of NK cell in mice bearing tumor was also enhanced compared with control group. When YR-1 combined with conventional chemotherapy drugs, it can increase the inhibiting effect of DDP, EPI, VP-16 and TAX, and reduce the inhibiting effect of CTX. CONCLUSION: YR-1 inhibited significantly the growth of tumor in mice. Its mechanism of antitumor action may be related to its enhanced activity of macrophage and NK cell. There was a synergetic effect between YR-1 and DDP or EPI, a summation effect between YR-1 and VP-16 or TAX, an antagonistic effect between YR-1 and CTX.