Researchers from China investigated a substance called Ginsenoside CK, found in ginseng, to see if it could fight liver cancer. They studied how this ginsenoside affected liver cancer cells in a lab setting and found that CK slowed down the growth of these cells and triggered a process called ferroptosis, which essentially kills the cells. Experiments suggest this ginsenoside achieves this by activating a specific pathway (FOXO) within the cells. Finally, they tested this ginsenoside in mice (as a HepG2 cell-transplanted tumor model) with transplanted liver tumors and observed that this ginsenoside slowed down tumor growth. These findings provide promising evidence that this ginsenoside might be a potential treatment for liver cancer with fewer side effects. (1)
Question - How does this ginsenoside interact with the body's cytochrome P450 (CYPs) enzymes?
In a study, researchers screened the cytochrome P450 enzymes for the metabolism of Ginsenoside CK in vitro using human liver microsomes or human recombinant CYPs. The results showed that Ginsenoside CK inhibited the enzyme activities of CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 in the human liver microsomes. Ginsenoside CK acts as a substrate for these enzymes, meaning it gets broken down by them. Interestingly, Ginsenoside CK also inhibits the activity of these enzymes. This means it can slow down how the body processes certain medications. (2)
While the study doesn't directly say how Ginsenoside CK helps with cancer, it highlights a potential concern. If a liver cancer patient takes Ginsenoside CK along with other medications that rely on CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 to work effectively, Ginsenoside CK might interfere with those medications. This could alter the effectiveness of the other medications.
Reference
(1) Jiaxin Chen et al, Ginsenoside compound K induces ferroptosis via the FOXO pathway in liver cancer cells, BMC Complement Med Ther. 2024 Apr 25;24(1):174.
(2) Jian Xiao et al, Screening of Drug Metabolizing Enzymes for the Ginsenoside Compound K In Vitro: An Efficient Anti-Cancer Substance Originating from Panax Ginseng,PLoS One. 2016 Feb 4;11(2):e0147183.