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Sunday 11 February 2018

Ginseng phytochemicals as therapeutics in oncology: Recent perspectives.

Biomed Pharmacother. 2018 Feb 5;100:52-63. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.01.155. [Epub ahead of print] Majeed F1, Malik FZ1, Ahmed Z2, Afreen A1, Afzal MN3, Khalid N4. Author information 1 Department of Home and Health Sciences, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan. 2 Department of Home and Health Sciences, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: zaheer.ahmed@aiou.edu.pk. 3 School of Health Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54000, Pakistan. 4 School of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; Center of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3217, Australia. Electronic address: nauman.khalid@umt.edu.pk. Abstract During the last few decades, cancer has mushroomed as a major health issue; and almost all drugs used for its therapy are very toxic with lethal side effects. Complementary and alternative medicines gain popularity among health professionals in recent era owing to its preventive mechanism against side effect chemotherapeutic drugs. Efforts are focused by scientists to isolate compounds from medicinal plant that have chemotherapeutic attributes; and ability to neutralize the side effects of chemotherapy. Ginseng is an oriental medicinal recipe from Araliceae family and Panax species. The chemotherapeutic effect of ginsenoside is resultant of its appetites, anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. The anticancer effect of ginseng is proven in various types of cancer, including; breast, lung, liver, colon and skin cancer. It increases the mitochondrial accumulation of apoptosis protein and downregulate the expression of anti-apoptotic protein. It also aids in the reduction of alopecia, fatigue and nausea, the known side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. The aim of the present review is to provide the brief review of the recent researches related to mechanism of action of ginseng in different types of cancer as complementary and alternative medicine on different body organs. KEYWORDS: Chemotherapy; Colon; Ginseng; Liver; Lung; Phytochemicals; Skin cancer