Ginsenosides inhibit EGF-induced proliferation of renal proximal tubule cells via decrease of c-fos and c-jun gene expression in vitro.

Recent epidemiological studies have demonstrated that ginseng intake is associated with a reduced risk for environmentally related cancers. However, the effects of ginsenosides on the proliferation of renal proximal tubule cells have not yet elucidated. This study investigated the effect of total ginsenosides, protopanaxatriol (PT) saponin, and protopanaxadiol (PD) saponin fraction on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced renal cell proliferation and, furthermore, c-fos and c-jun gene expression. In the present study, total ginsenosides (10(-6) g/ml) completely blocked EGF-induced DNA synthesis and cell growth. In contrast, the PT and PD fractions partially blocked it. In addition, the EGF-induced increase of c-fos and c-jun gene expression was completely blocked by total ginsenosides and partially by PT and PD saponins. In conclusion, ginsenosides, in part, inhibit EGF-induced cell proliferation via decrease of c-fos and c-jun gene expression in primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubular cells (PTCs).