Ginseng can Prevent Breast Cancer

The purpose of this study was to determine whether ginseng can the development of chemically induced breast cancer in a mouse model prevented. Ginseng, for breast cancer tamoxifen and a new experimental drug called ospemifene have been compared, both proved to be effective in the prevention of breast cancer in mice. ; Ospemifene (N = 20) control (no drug treatment) (N = 23), ginseng (n = 20), tamoxifen (n = 20): A total of 83 mice were divided into four treatment groups. All compounds were administered orally at a dose of 50 mg / kg body weight per day (7 days / week) for 52 weeks. Because breast cancer develops, whose size was controlled, and once reached the maximum allowed volume, the tumor-bearing mice were removed from the study. Tumor samples were collected and analyzed to determine the tissue of origin. After 52 weeks of treatment, the study was terminated and all remaining mice were sacrificed and examined for tumors that were removed and analyzed.

On 30 June 2005, completed the research project. Report for all cancers that developed during the treatment period of 52 weeks, has been received. The results showed that both tamoxifen and ospemifene greatly hindered the development of breast cancer, as expected, with an incidence of breast cancer of 0% and 5%, compared with an incidence of 56.5% in control group. However, the incidence of breast cancer in ginseng group 40%, which was not significantly different from the control group and was significantly higher than in the tamoxifen group and ospemifene. Other cancers, including ovarian tumors and lymphomas observed were, but there was no statistically significant difference in these other types of cancer between the groups. The incidence of tumors of any type was 78.3, 80.0, 80.0 and 60.0% respectively in the control, suggesting ginseng, ospemifene and tamoxifen groups that tamoxifen ospemifene selectively inhibits the formation of breast tumors. Our results show that tamoxifen and ospemifene have almost the same efficiency, the development of chemically induced breast cancer prevented in mice, but not ginseng does not seem to be an effective agent for chemoprevention in this model. In summary, these preliminary results suggest that the potential of ginseng to prevent breast cancer is low, compared to tamoxifen and ospemifene. Lack of effect of ginseng may be due to the low bioavailability or just less activity in this model. Future studies of the active components of ginseng can be more conclusive information on the value of ginseng in the prevention of breast cancer.

Although the results of this study showed that ginseng not prevent effective that the development of mammary tumors in this mouse model, there are other studies that the crude purified components of ginseng known as ginsenosides, may be useful to recommend in cancer prevention. The study data derived from soy phytoestrogens or plant estrogens like genistein are encouraging. Therefore investigations carried out of the pure active ingredients of ginseng to determine the value of these substances in the prevention of breast cancer. Similarly, further studies on soy-derived phytoestrogens determine the potential of these drugs in cancer therapy and prevention.