Chemopreventive effect of Korean red ginseng extract in rat hepatocarcinogenesis Hae-Jeung Lee, Mi-Kyung Hong, Hyemee Kim, Haymie Choi. Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. This study was conducted to examine the effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG) extract on preneoplastic foci formation and glutathione-dependent detoxifying enzyme activities in rat hepatocarcinogenesis. We used KRG extract prepared from Cheong-Kwan-Jang, Korean red ginseng root (6-year-old). Basal diet was composed of 20g casein, 54.7g corn starch, 15g corn oil, 1g vitamin and 4g minerals, 5g á-cellulose and 0.3g DL-methionine per 100g diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (4 week-old) were fed with one of KRG extract (0, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0%) supplemented diets for 10 weeks, and induced hepatocarcinogenesis by diethylnitrosamine (200mg/kg body weight) and 2/3 partial hepatectomy. The areas and numbers of placental glutathione S-transferase (GST) positive foci were significantly decreased in rats fed KRG diets, and 1.0% diet was the most effective on suppressing the foci formation (62% of number and 64% of area of basal diet group). The hepatic glutathione level and GST activity were increased in KRG diet groups. However, the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were not different between groups. Hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content was significantly reduced dose dependently. Triglyceride (TG) level and the activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in serum were significantly reduced in all KRG diet groups. Fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity and its protein expression were reduced and GST protein expression was induced in KRG diet groups. Conclusively, Korean red ginseng extract exerts chemopreventive effects in hepatocarcinogenesis by inducing a GST, lowering of lipid peroxidation and TG content, and the suppressing fatty acid synthase. Abstract 3943, AACR 2005 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.