Ginsenoside Rh2 suppresses growth of uterine leiomyoma in vitro and in vivo and may regulate ERα/c-Src/p38 MAPK activity

• Main Authors: Yan Zhu, Junjiu Xu, Zhao Li, Shuwu Xie, Jieyun Zhou, Xiangjie Guo, Xianying Zhou, Guoting Li, Ruihua Zhong, Aying Ma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2015-10-01
• Series: Journal of Functional Foods
• Subjects: Ginsenoside Rh2; ERα; c-Src; p38 MAPK; Uterine leiomyoma
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464615003515

Panax ginseng is widely used as a functional food in Asia because of its bioactivities. Here, we report that ginsenoside Rh2, an extract of red Panax ginseng, suppressed growth of uterine leiomyomas (ULs) in a rat model and decreased serum hormone levels in a dose-dependent manner. Rh2 also inhibited the growth of cultured human UL cells in vitro. After Rh2 treatment, cells showed morphological changes that were consistent with apoptosis. Using ELISA, real-time RT-PCR, and Western blot methods, we found that Rh2 significantly reduced the activity of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and c-Src, increased p38 MAPK activity, and reversed ERα activity mediated by PP2 and SB203580, specific inhibitors of c-Src and p38 MAPK, respectively, in UL cells. These findings provide a novel mechanism for the anti-proliferative efficacy of Rh2 that likely involves regulating ERα/Src/p38 MAPK activity.