American ginseng berry enhances chemopreventive effect of 5-FU on human colorectal cancer cells

  • Authors:
    • Xiao-Li Li
    • Chong-Zhi Wang
    • Shi Sun
    • Sangeeta R. Mehendale
    • Wei Du
    • Tong-Chuan He
    • Chun-Su Yuan
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 1, 2009     https://doi.org/10.3892/or_00000521
  • Pages: 943-952
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Abstract

In this study, we investigated the possible synergistic chemopreventive effects of American ginseng berry extract (AGBE) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on human colorectal cancer cell lines, SW-480, HCT-116 and HT-29. We used high-performance liquid chromatography to determine the contents of major ginsenosides, the active components of American ginseng, in AGBE. The anti-proliferative effects were evaluated by the cell counting method. AGBE (0.1-1.0 mg/ml) significantly inhibited SW-480, HCT-116 and HT-29 cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner. Cell growth decreased more with the combined treatment of 5-FU and AGBE than with 5-FU or AGBE applied alone, suggesting that AGBE can reduce the dose of 5-FU needed to achieve desired effects and thereby decrease the dose-related toxicity of the chemotherapy agent. Cell apoptosis assay showed that AGBE markedly reduced the number of viable SW-480 cells at 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ml, but did not increase cell apoptosis significantly. Neither 5-FU nor co-treatment with 5-FU and AGBE induced cell apoptosis markedly. Cell cycle assay showed that AGBE mainly arrested SW-480 cells in the G2/M phase. 5-FU increased the percentage of SW-480 cells at the S phase of the cell cycle. The assay of combined treatment groups indicated that AGBE can heighten the arrest of SW-480 cells in the S phase induced by 5-FU, and increase the cell distribution in G2/M phase compared with 5-FU applied alone. The trend of increasing cyclin A was similar to the increase of S and G2/M phase cells in all treated groups. The enhancement of S and G2/M phase arrest, rather than cell apoptosis, should be the mechanism of synergistic effects of AGBE on 5-FU. Further in vivo and clinical trials are needed to test AGBE as a valuable chemo-adjuvant.

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October 2009
Volume 22 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Li X, Wang C, Sun S, Mehendale SR, Du W, He T and Yuan C: American ginseng berry enhances chemopreventive effect of 5-FU on human colorectal cancer cells. Oncol Rep 22: 943-952, 2009
APA
Li, X., Wang, C., Sun, S., Mehendale, S.R., Du, W., He, T., & Yuan, C. (2009). American ginseng berry enhances chemopreventive effect of 5-FU on human colorectal cancer cells. Oncology Reports, 22, 943-952. https://doi.org/10.3892/or_00000521
MLA
Li, X., Wang, C., Sun, S., Mehendale, S. R., Du, W., He, T., Yuan, C."American ginseng berry enhances chemopreventive effect of 5-FU on human colorectal cancer cells". Oncology Reports 22.4 (2009): 943-952.
Chicago
Li, X., Wang, C., Sun, S., Mehendale, S. R., Du, W., He, T., Yuan, C."American ginseng berry enhances chemopreventive effect of 5-FU on human colorectal cancer cells". Oncology Reports 22, no. 4 (2009): 943-952. https://doi.org/10.3892/or_00000521