Ginsenoside Rg1 attenuates invasion and migration by inhibiting transforming growth factor-β1-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition in HepG2 cells

Ginseng has become one of the most commonly used alternative herbal medicines and its active component, ginsenoside Rg1, possesses known pharmacological effects, including anticancer properties. However, the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on metastasis have not been investigated. The present study demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 was able to suppress transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-1)-induced invasion and migration in HepG2 liver cancer cells. This suppression was associated with the inhibition of TGF-1-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Furthermore, TGF-1 induced HepG2 cells to undergo EMT and significantly promoted cell invasion and migration. When cells were pretreated with ginsenoside Rg1 for 24 h and subsequently exposed to TGF-1 for 24 h, the results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 inhibited the initiation of TGF-1-induced EMT. In addition, HepG2 cells exhibited a mesenchymal phenotype when exposed to TGF-1, but when exposed to ginsenoside Rg1 this effect was reversed and the cells exhibited a classical epithelial morphology. Ginsenoside Rg1 also increased the expression of the epithelial phenotype marker E-cadherin and repressed the expression of the mesenchymal phenotype marker vimentin. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 may suppress liver cancer invasion and migration in vitro through inhibiting TGF-1-induced EMT.