Advances in preclinical studies of ginsenoside Rh2 in antitumor therapy

Abstract

Cancer is a wound that never heals and is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) is the main active substance extracted from Panax ginseng c.a. Meyer, has anticancer activity. G-Rh2 can inhibit tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and neovascularization, regulate immune function, and induce apoptosis and cycle blockade in vitro and in vivo. In addition, G-Rh2 can be used as an adjuvant to chemotherapeutic drugs to enhance their anticancer effects and reverse adverse effects. In this study, the anti-tumor mechanism of G-Rh2 was organized and reviewed by reviewing relevant reports in recent years to provide guidance for the application of G-Rh2 in clinical tumor therapy.