American ginseng and breast cancer therapeutic agents synergistically inhibit MCF-7 breast cancer cell growth

  1. Rosemary B. Duda MD1,*,
  2. Ying Zhong MD1,
  3. Vinicio Navas MD1,
  4. Michael Z. C. Li MD, MSc2,
  5. Brian R. Toy MSc2,
  6. Juan G. Alavarez MD, PhD3

Article first published online: 8 DEC 1999

DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9098(199912)72:4<230::AID-JSO9>3.0.CO;2-2

Issue

Journal of Surgical Oncology

Journal of Surgical Oncology

Volume 72, Issue 4, pages 230–239, December 1999

Additional Information

How to Cite

Duda, R. B., Zhong, Y., Navas, V., Li, M. Z. C., Toy, B. R. and Alavarez, J. G. (1999), American ginseng and breast cancer therapeutic agents synergistically inhibit MCF-7 breast cancer cell growth. Journal of Surgical Oncology, 72: 230–239. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9098(199912)72:4<230::AID-JSO9>3.0.CO;2-2

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

  2. 2

    Chai-Na-Ta Corp., Langley, British Columbia, Canada

  3. 3

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

*Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Surgical Oncology - RW 871, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston MA 02215

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 8 DEC 1999
  2. Article first published online: 8 DEC 1999
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 24 SEP 1999

Funded by

  • Chai-Na-Ta Corp., British Columbia, Canada

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

Get PDF (398K)

Keywords:

  • phytoestrogens;
  • cell proliferation;
  • menopause

Abstract

Background and Objectives

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) purportedly alleviates menopause symptoms because of putative estrogenicity.

Methods

Using a standardized American ginseng (AG) extract in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, the objectives were to evaluate the ability of AG to induce the estrogen- regulated gene pS2 by Northern blot analysis, determine the effect on cell growth using the MTT assay, and evaluate the cell cycle effects by flow cytometry.

Results

AG and estradiol equivalently induced RNA expression of pS2. AG, in contrast to estradiol, caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation (P < 0.005). AG had no adverse effect on the cell cycle while estradiol significantly increased the proliferative phase (percent S-phase) and decreased the resting phase (G0–G1 phase) (P < 0.005). Concurrent use of AG and breast cancer therapeutic agents resulted in a significant (P < 0.005) suppression of cell growth for most drugs evaluated.

Conclusions

In vitro use of AG and breast cancer therapeutics synergistically inhibited cancer cell growth. J. Surg. Oncol. 1999;72:230–239. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Get PDF (398K)