Issue 2, 2015

Recent advances in ginseng as cancer therapeutics: a functional and mechanistic overview

Abstract

Covering: 2000 to 2014

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Ginseng, a key ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, shows great promise as a new treatment option. As listed by the U.S. National Institutes of Health as a complementary and alternative medicine, its anti-cancer functions are being increasingly recognized. This review covers the mechanisms of action of ginsenosides and their metabolites, which can modulate signaling pathways associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, metastasis, and stem/progenitor-like properties of cancer cells. The emerging use of structurally modified ginsenosides and recent clinical studies on the use of ginseng either alone or in combination with other herbs or Western medicines which are exploited as novel therapeutic strategies will also be explored.

Graphical abstract: Recent advances in ginseng as cancer therapeutics: a functional and mechanistic overview

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
04 Jun 2014
First published
27 Oct 2014

Nat. Prod. Rep., 2015,32, 256-272

Author version available

Recent advances in ginseng as cancer therapeutics: a functional and mechanistic overview

A. S. T. Wong, C. Che and K. Leung, Nat. Prod. Rep., 2015, 32, 256 DOI: 10.1039/C4NP00080C

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