Mechanistic insight into the ability of American ginseng to suppress colon cancer associated with colitis

Carcinogenesis. 2010 Oct;31(10):1734-41. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgq163. Epub 2010 Aug 20.

Abstract

We have recently shown that American ginseng (AG) prevents and treats mouse colitis. Because both mice and humans with chronic colitis have a high colon cancer risk, we tested the hypothesis that AG can be used to prevent colitis-driven colon cancer. Using the azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) mouse model of ulcerative colitis, we show that AG can suppress colon cancer associated with colitis. To explore the molecular mechanisms of the anticancer effects of AG, we also carried out antibody array experiments on colon cells isolated at a precancerous stage. We found there were 82 protein end points that were either significantly higher (41 proteins) or significantly lower (41 proteins) in the AOM + DSS group compared with the AOM-alone (control) group. In contrast, there were only 19 protein end points that were either significantly higher (10 proteins) or significantly lower (9 proteins) in the AOM + DSS + AG group compared with the AOM-alone (control) group. Overall, these results suggest that AG keeps the colon environment in metabolic equilibrium when mice are treated with AOM + DSS and gives insight into the mechanisms by which AG protects from colon cancer associated with colitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / physiology
  • Animals
  • Azoxymethane / toxicity
  • Colitis / drug therapy*
  • Colon / drug effects
  • Colon / pathology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Dextran Sulfate / toxicity
  • Female
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 7 / physiology
  • PAX2 Transcription Factor / physiology
  • Panax*
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Bag4 protein, mouse
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • PAX2 Transcription Factor
  • Pax2 protein, mouse
  • Plant Extracts
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 7
  • Azoxymethane