Cytotoxic Dammarane Glycosides from Processed Ginseng.

Abstract

Steaming ginseng at high temperature increased its cytotoxicity to SK-Hep-1 hepatoma cancer cells. HPLC separation and fractionation followed by MTT assay revealed that ginsenosides Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, Rs5, and Rs4 are the active principles. Their 50% growth inhibition concentration (GI50) values were 41, 11, 13, 37, and 13 microM, respectively. Cisplatin had a GI50 of 84 microM in the same assay conditions.