Abstract
Phase 2 detoxification enzymes protect against carcinogenesis and oxidative stress.
Ginseng (Panax spp.) extracts and components were assayed for inducer activity of NQO1 (quinone
reductase), a phase 2 enzyme, in Hepa1c1c7 cells. Ginseng extracts were analyzed for
ginsenosides and panaxytriol. Korean red Panax ginseng extracts demonstrated the most potent phase 2 enzyme induction activity (76 900 U/g
dried rhizome powder and 27 800 U/g for two similar preparations). The ginsenoside-enriched
HT-1001 American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius ) extract was the next most potent inducer, with activity of 15 900 U/g, followed
by raw American ginseng root with activity of 8700 U/g. Neither a polysaccharide-enriched
extract of American ginseng nor a commercial white Panax ginseng preparation showed any inducer activity. Pure ginsenosides showed no inducer activity.
Protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol, deglycosylated ginsenoside metabolic derivatives,
showed potent induction activity (approximately 500 000 U/g each). Synthetic panaxytriol
was over 10-fold more potent (induction potency 5 760 000 U/g). There was no correlation
between ginsenoside content and phase 2 enzyme induction. The most potent inducing
red ginseng extract also had the highest panaxytriol content, 120.8 µg/g. We found
that ginseng induced NQO1 and that polyacetylenes are the most active components.
Key words
antioxidants - anticarcinogenic agents - NQO1 -
Panax spp - Araliaceae family - panaxytriol
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Prof. Charles Flexner
Department of Medicine Johns Hopkins University
600 N Wolfe St.
Osler 503
Baltimore, MD 21287
USA
Telefon: + 1 41 09 55 97 12
Fax: + 1 41 06 14 99 78
eMail: flex@jhmi.edu