Abstract
The anticarcinogenic effects and mechanisms of the biotechnological drugs of
Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer cultivated in Russia, bioginseng, panaxel and panaxel-
5, were studied. Bioginseng was produced from a tissue culture of ginseng
root cultured on standard medium, whereas panaxel and panaxel-5 were produced
from ginseng tissue root cultures using standard mediums enriched with
2-carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide and 1-hydroxygermatran-monohydrate
respectively. All three ginseng drugs inhibited the development of mammary
tumors induced by intramammary injections of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) in
rats, the development of the brain and spinal cord tumors induced by transplacental
administration of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) in rats, and the development
of uterine, cervical and vaginal tumors induced by intravaginal applications
of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) in mice. The ginseng drugs induced
the cytotoxic activity of macrophages in mice, enhanced T-lymphocyte rosette
formation in guinea pigs exposed to cyclophosphamide, and stimulated the production
of thyroid hormones in rats. These mechanisms may contribute to the
anticarcinogenic action of the ginseng drugs. The organic germanium compounds
present in panaxel and panaxel-5 did not potentiate the anticarcinogenic or immuno-
stimulatory effects as much as biogeinseng. Preliminary clinical trials with
panaxel and bioginseng were carried out in patients with precancerous lesions
of the esophagus and endometrium. Panaxel was found to have a strong therapeutic
effect in patients suffering from chronic erosive esophagitis. Bioginseng
induced the regression of adenomatous-cystic hyperplasia of the endometrium
in some patients. Thus, we conclude that the drugs of ginseng appear to hold
considerable promise for future cancer chemoprevention.