Cisplatin's tumoricidal effect on human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells was not attenuated by American ginseng

Purpose We previously observed that American ginseng berry and ginsenoside Re attenuated cisplatin-induced emesis in a rat model, suggesting that the herb may have a value in treating chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting. However, it is not clear whether consuming ginseng concurrently with chemotherapy affects the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we explored if the ginseng extract and its constituents, ginsenosides Rb-1, Rb-3, and Re, alter tumoricidal activity of cisplatin in human cancer cells. Methods Tumoricidal effects of cisplatin, and/or American ginseng berry extract (AGBE) and ginsenosides Rb-1, Rb-3, and Re, on human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells were measured as cell proliferation in vitro. Cell counts were performed in MCF-7 cells pretreated with test agents for 72 h. Results Cisplatin decreased MCF-7 cell proliferation significantly in a concentration-dependent manner. Compared to control group, cisplatin reduced the cell proliferations to 56.5 +/- 3.3% at 1 mu g/ml, to 36.6 +/- 2.4% at 5 mu g/ml, and to 26.9 +/- 2.4% at 15 mu g/ml (P < 0.01). AGBE also inhibited the cell proliferation significantly, although in a less extended manner. When the berry extract at 0.5 mg/ml was used with cisplatin at 1 mu g/ml, a significant enhancement of cisplatin's activity was observed (35.8 +/- 2.5%; P < 0.05). We also observed that Rb-1 did not change cisplatin's activity; Rb-3, at a higher concentration, increased cisplatin's anti-proliferation activity (48.0 +/- 1.2%; P < 0.05); Re increased cisplatin's activity (Re 0.1 mg/ml, 48.0 +/- 2.8%; Re 0.3 mg/ml, 31.9 +/- 2.2%, P < 0.01). Conclusion Our data suggest that AGBE and the tested ginsenosides do not attenuate cisplatin's tumoricidal activity in MCF-7 cells, but in fact may actually enhance it. Additionally, the ginseng extract and ginsenoside Re by themselves exerted anti-proliferative activity against MCF-7 cells. The herb might potentially serve a complementary role with the chemotherapeutic agents in treating cancer, in addition to decreasing chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting.