Comparative studies of the antiproliferative effects of ginseng polysaccharides on HT-29 human colon cancer cells

Ginseng polysaccharide has anticancer activity. However, the structure–activity relationship and the activity mechanism are still unclear. Therefore, it is necessary to study the anticancer activity of structurally different ginseng polysaccharide fractions and their potential mechanisms. Ginseng polysaccharide fractions and their temperature-modified products were assayed for their effects on HT-29 cell proliferation by MTT assay, on cell cycle progression by flow cytometry, and on caspase-3 activation by western blot analysis. The HG-rich ginseng pectin inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. The temperature-modified HG-rich pectin had dramatically increased antiproliferative effect and induced apoptosis accompanied by the activation of caspase-3. Starch-like glucan and arabinogalactan of ginseng exhibited no antiproliferative effects. Even after temperature modification, their inhibitory effects either remained unchanged or increased slightly. The HG-rich pectin exerts its antiproliferative effect via cell cycle arrest and the temperature modification markedly increased the antiproliferative effect.