[Anticarcinogenic effect of 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 on induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats].
OBJECTIVE: To explore the anticarcinogenic mechanism of 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 in induced liver tumor in SD rat. METHODS: Thirty-five SD rats with induced hepatocellular carcinoma were divided into a control group and 3 dosage groups according to the dosing levels of 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3. The tumour volume was measured by MR imaging. The apoptotic rat and S-phase fraction and diploid of tumor cell were measured with flow cytometry. Protein expression of PCNA and TNF were evaluated with immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: There was significant difference in tumour volume between the high dosage group and the control group. The average apoptotic rates were 11.08+/-3.78, 13.57+/-3.34, 27.35+/-16.04 and the S-phase fractions were 23.98+/-9.44, 19.73+/-6.62, 14.09+/-3.48 in the low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups respectively. The apoptotic rate was significantly higher in the high-dosage group than in the medium-dosage group and low-dosage group. Before-after comparison showed that the anti-proliferative effects of 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 were significant in three treatment groups. The higher positive rats of protein expression with PCNA and TNF were significant difference in the high-dosage group compared to those in the low-dosage group. No significant difference between the medium-dosage group and the low-dosage group. CONCLUSION: 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 can noticeably inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells, and efficaciously induce the apoptosis and facilitate necrosis of the tumor cells, and there appears to be a dose dependent effect.