Synergistic effects of ginsenoside Rg3 and cyclophosphamine on tumor growth and angiogenesis in lung cancer

To evaluate the effectiveness of ginsenoside Rg3 alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide (CPA) on tumor growth and angiogenesis in human lung cancer, 54 female athymic mice were transplanted with lung cancer cells (A549) which then were randomly divided into 4 groups: Ginsenoside Rg3 group, CPA group, ginsenoside Rg3 plus CPA group and control group. Ginsenoside Rg3 of 3.0 mg/kg (once/day for 10 days) and CPA of 20.0 mg/kg (once/day for 10 days) were intraperitoneally given to mice for consecutive 10 days. Seven mice selected from each group were sacrificed 18 days later. The survival time of the remaining 7 mice in each group was recorded. The life elongation rate, proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index (PCNALI), expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) in the tumor tissues were evaluated. The quality of life of mice with administration of ginsenoside Rg3 alone or ginsenoside Rg3 plus CPA were better with longer survival time, when compared with other groups. The PCNALI, MVD and VEGF expression in mice of the treated groups were significantly lowered when compared with that of the control group. Additionally, the MVD of mice in groups with treatment of ginsenoside Rg3 alone or ginsenoside Rg3 plus CPA were lower than that in the CPA group. Tumor growth and angiogenesis in lung cancer were profoundly inhibited by ginsenoside Rg3 alone or in combination with CPA. The synergistic anticancer effects of ginsenoside Rg3 and CPA improved the survival time in lung cancer.