Ginseng extract and its constituents alleviate cisplatin toxicity and reverse cisplatin resistance

Abstract

Cisplatin (DDP) is one of most used anticancer agents. It has shown antitumor activity in testicular cancer, head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, malignant lymphoma and bladder cancer. It causes much toxicity such as skin and mucous membranes toxicity, ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity especially at higher dose, which might be involved with DNA damage and subsequently renal cell death. Ginseng is a group of cosmopolitan plants. As the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, ginseng is well known as a tonic medicine for restoring and enhancing human health. Ginseng extract contains numerous phytochemicals such as ginsenoside, phenols and acidic polysaccharides that have significant pharmacological activities. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that ginseng extract and its constituents are able to prevent cisplatin-induced toxicity through reducing the oxidative stress by restoring the antioxidant enzymes level and exerting anti-inflammatory effect. Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a principal obstacle to successful cancer chemotherapy. Because of low toxicity and diversity of effect, ginseng extract constituents have been attached more and more attention in MDR reversal. Evidences showed that ginseng extract and its constituents are promising potential for cisplatin resistance in cancer treatment. *Correspondence to: Huihong Huang, Fengxian Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, 9588 Nanfeng Hwy, Shanghai 201400, China, E-mail: HYPERLINK "mailto:1142269435@qq.com" 1142269435@qq.com