Effect of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh_2 on cell proliferation and cycle of human colon cancer cells

AIM To investigate the effects of 20(s)-ginsenoside-Rh2 on human colon cancer cells.METHODS Caco-2 and HT-29 human colon cancer cell lines were used.The antiproliferative effects of 20(s)-ginsenoside-Rh2 were assessed by fluorescence microporous assays.Cellular morphological changes were observed under microscopy.The cell cycle was measured by flow cytometry.RESULTS 20(s)-ginsenoside-Rh2 inhibited the proliferation of Caco-2 and HT-29 cell lines in a dose-dependent manner.Caco-2 and HT-29 cell lines were sensitive to 20(s)-ginsenoside-Rh2 with an IC50 of 26.79 and 19.68 μg/mL,respectively,in the microplate fluorimetric assay.From the result of flow cytometry analysis,20(s)-ginsenoside-Rh2,compared with the untreated cells,20(s)-ginsenoside-Rh2,caused significant reduction in number of cells at the G0/G1 and G2/M phases,and an increase in number of cells at the S phases.CONCLUSION 20(s)-ginsenoside-Rh2 could inhibit the growth by arresting human colon cancer cells in the S phase of the cell cycle.