In vivo Anti-metastatic Action of Ginseng Protopanaxadiol saponins is Based on Their Intestinal Bacterial Metabolites After Oral Administration

Ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng C. A. MEYER, Araliaceae) has been used for traditional medicine in China, Korea, Japan and other Asian countries for the treatment of various diseases including psychiatric and neurologic diseases as well as diabetes mellitus. So far, ginseng saponins (ginsenosides) have been regarded as the principal components responsible for the pharmacological activities of ginseng. Ginsenosides are glycosides containing an aglycone (protopanaxadiol or protopanaxatriol) with a dammarane skeleton and have been shown to possess various biological activities including the enhancement of cholesterol biosynthesis, stimulation of serum protein synthesis, immuno- modulatory effects and anti-inflammatory activity. Several studies using ginsenosides have also reported anti-tumor effects, particularly the inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis, and the control of phenotypic expression and differentiation of tumor cells.