Ginseng berry concentrate prevents colon cancer via cell cycle, apoptosis regulation, and inflammation-linked Th17 cell differentiation

Ginsenosides 20R-Rg3 and Rg5 enriched black ginseng inhibits colorectal cancer tumor growth by activating the Akt/Bax/caspase-3 pathway and modulating gut microbiota in mice

Black ginseng (BG) is of great interest for its anti-cancer property. Its detailed mechanism, however, is still lacking. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ginsenosides 20R-Rg3 and Rg5 enriched BG (Rg3/Rg5-BG), innovatively prepared by low temperature steam-heating process, against colorectal cancer (CRC), and elucidate its potential molecular mechanism. Interestingly, much higher concentrations of rare ginsenosides were detected in this unique BG than those in red ginseng, especially 20R-Rg3 and Rg5, which may contribute to treatment of CRC. As expected, Rg3/Rg5-BG demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in cancer cell viability, along with the induction of cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Moreover, Rg3/Rg5-BG retarded tumor growth in the model mice, as evidenced by downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein and phosphatidyl Akt, and upregulation of the apoptotic proteins Bax, caspase-8, and cleaved caspase-3, enhancing apoptosis of tumor cells. Additionally, Rg3/Rg5-BG treatment improved the gut microbiota and intervened with bacteria associated with cancer development, including increasing beneficial probiotics such as Candidatus_Saccharibacteria and Saccharibacteria_genera_incertae_sedis and decreasing pernicious bacteria (Vampirovibrio, Clostridium_XlVb, etc.). Our results manifested for the first time that Rg3/Rg5-BG exerted its anti-cancer effects: through activation of the caspase-3/Bax/Bcl-2 pathway and by altering the gut microbiome composition, thus paving the way for new therapeutic strategies that incorporate natural products in cancer treatment.

Correlation of Th17/Treg associated transcription factors with clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer and their prognostic significance

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the correlation of Th17/Treg associated transcription factors (TFs) with clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer (CRC) and their prognostic significance.

METHODS

This research enrolled 56 CRC patients (experimental group, EG) and 50 healthy controls (control group, CG), who presented to Deqing People's Hospital between June 2017 and January 2019. The levels of Th17, Treg and their TFs [forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3), retinoid acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt)] and secreted inflammatory factors (IFs) [interleukin-17 (IL-17), interleukin-22 (IL-22)] were detected in the peripheral blood (PB) of both groups, and the TFs' phosphorylated protein expression was observed by Western blot. Further, the correlation of TFs with patients' pathological features was analyzed. Finally, a 3-year prognostic follow-up was performed on CRC patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) determined the predictive value of Th17/Treg on the prognostic mortality of patients.

RESULTS

Peripheral blood Th17 and Treg showed higher levels in the EG than in the CG, demonstrating excellent diagnostic effects on CRC (P<0.05). The EG also exhibited reduced Foxp3 and p-Foxp3 protein expression, and elevated RORγt and p-RORγt levels compared with the CG (all P<0.0001). In addition, the EG exhibited statistically higher IL-17 and IL-22 levels than the CG (all P<0.05). Further, the analysis of pathological features revealed close correlations of Th17/Treg, RORγt and Foxp3 with tumor size, TNM staging, degree of differentiation, and lymph node metastasis (LNM) of CRC patients (all P<0.001). Finally, the prognostic follow-up results identified that TNM staging, degree of differentiation, LNM, RORγt, Th17 and Treg were independent risk factors for prognostic mortality of CRC patients, while Foxp3 was an independent protective factor (all P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Th17/Treg associated TFs are of great significance for the prognosis evaluation of CRC, the imbalance of which can cause aggravation of the inflammatory reaction and promote malignancy of CRC.

Ginsenosides: an immunomodulator for the treatment of colorectal cancer

Ginsenosides, the primary bioactive ingredients derived from the root of Panax ginseng, are eagerly in demand for tumor patients as a complementary and alternative drug. Ginsenosides have increasingly become a "hot topic" in recent years due to their multifunctional role in treating colorectal cancer (CRC) and regulating tumor microenvironment (TME). Emerging experimental research on ginsenosides in the treatment and immune regulation of CRC has been published, while no review sums up its specific role in the CRC microenvironment. Therefore, this paper systematically introduces how ginsenosides affect the TME, specifically by enhancing immune response, inhibiting the activation of stromal cells, and altering the hallmarks of CRC cells. In addition, we discuss their impact on the physicochemical properties of the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we discuss the application of ginsenosides in clinical treatment as their efficacy in enhancing tumor patient immunity and prolonging survival. The future perspectives of ginsenoside as a complementary and alternative drug of CRC are also provided. This review hopes to open up a new horizon for the cancer treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine monomers.

Therapeutic effects of ginseng and ginsenosides on colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common malignant diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates. Ginseng and its major extracts, ginsenosides, have been used in medical fields for thousands of years. In particular, their huge anti-cancer potential has drawn a great deal of attention in recent years. There is a large body of evidence that has shown that ginseng and its extracts could significantly inhibit tumor development and progression by suppressing cell proliferation, tumor growth, invasion and metastasis, inducing tumor cell apoptosis, regulating tumor-associated immune responses, and improving the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy. Notably, different subtypes of ginsenosides, even those extracted from the same ginseng, have exhibited distinct anti-cancer functions through different mechanisms. Over the past few years, a large number of studies have focused on how ginseng or various ginsenosides influence CRC development. Therefore, the roles and the potential of ginseng and ginsenosides in the treatment of CRC are summarized in this review. In addition, the biochemical properties of ginseng and ginsenosides are also briefly described.

Evaluation and Screening of Hypoglycemic Activity of Total Ginsenosides GBE-5 Fraction From Panax Ginseng Berry Based on UHPLC-MS Metabolomics

Objective

Ginseng berry (GB) was the mature fruit of medicinal and edible herb, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, with significant hypoglycemic effect. Ginsenoside was the main hypoglycemic active component of GB. Evaluating and screening the effective components of GB was of great significance to further develop its hypoglycemic effect.

Methods

The polar fractions of ginseng berry extract (GBE) were separated by a solvent extraction, and identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). The insulin resistance model of HepG2 cells was established, and the hypoglycemic active fraction in GBE polar fractions were screened in vitro. Rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was established to verify the hypoglycemic effect of the GBE active fraction. The metabolomic study based on UHPLC-MS was used to analyze the differential metabolites in the serum of T2DM rats after 30 days of intervention with hypoglycemic active GBE fraction. The kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was used to study the main metabolic pathways involved in the regulation of hypoglycemic active parts of GBE.

Results

It was found that GBE-5 fraction had better hypoglycemic activity than other GBE polar fractions in vitro cell hypoglycemic activity screening experiment. After 30 days of treatment, the fasting blood glucose value of T2DM rats decreased significantly by 34.75%, indicating that it had significant hypoglycemic effect. Eighteen differential metabolites enriched in KEGG metabolic pathway were screened and identified in the rat serum from T2DM vs. GBE-5 group, and the metabolic pathways mainly involved in regulation include arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, linoleic acid (LA) metabolism, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and ferroptosis.

Conclusions

The hypoglycemic effect of GBE-5 fraction was better than that of total ginsenoside of GB. The AA metabolism, LA metabolism, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and ferroptosis were the potential metabolic pathways for GBE-5 fraction to exert hypoglycemic regulation.