Abstract

The anticancer activities of petroleum ether extract of Panax ginseng root(crude GX) and its partially purified fraction from silicic acid column chromatography (7:3 GX) were studied with Sarcoma 180(S-180) or Walker carcinosarcoma 256 (Walker 256) in vivo and with L1210 leukemic lympocyte in vitro. Potential cytotoxic activities of the crude GX and against L1210 cells were compared with those of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and saponin derivatives (Panax-diol, Panax-triol, Diol saponin, Triol saponin) in vitro. In order to observe the physiological effects of the crude GX and 7:3 GX on the animals with cancer, hemoglobin(Hb), red blood cell(R.B.C) and white blood cell after treatment with each GX in comparison with corresponding control groups, respectively. The anticancer effects of the crude GX and 7:3 GX were estimated by measuring the survival time of S-180 bearing mice after treatment with them. The experimental results obtained are summarized as follows; 1. The one unit of cytotoxic activity against L1210 cells was equivalent to 2.54$\mu\textrm{g}$ and 0.88$\mu\textrm{g}$of the crude GX and 7:3 GX per ml of culture medium, respectively. 2. The cytotoxic activities of Panax-diol, Panax=triol, Diol saponin and triol saponin against L1210 cells were not detected. 3. The anticancer activities of 5-FU against L1210, S-180 and Walker 256 were very effective in vivo and vitro tests. 4. The significantly increased W.B.C values of mice after inoculation with S-180 cells were reduced to normal range by the crude GX treatment. 5. The significantly decreased Hb values of rats after inoculation with Walker 256 were recovered to normal range by oral administration of the crude GX. 6. The survival times of mice inoculated with S-180 cells were extended about 1.5 to 2 times by the 7:3 GX treatment compared with their control group.

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