ginsenoside Rg3

Ginsenoside Rg3 is a steroidal saponin and a tetracyclic triterpenoid glycoside isolated from the roots of Panax ginseng and Panax notoginseng. It acts as an apoptosis inducer, antineoplastic agent, angiogenesis modulator, and plant metabolite. Mechanistically, it induces apoptosis in cancer cells via both mitochondrial-dependent intrinsic pathways—reducing mitochondrial membrane potential, activating caspase cascades—and extrinsic death receptor pathways. Ginsenoside Rg3 also modulates signaling through PI3K/Akt/mTORC1 and can inhibit or promote cell growth depending on concentration; at lower doses it activates mTORC1 to promote mitochondrial biogenesis and ATP production, while higher concentrations inhibit tumor cell proliferation. It has been shown to enhance the effects of conventional chemotherapeutic agents and reduce their toxicity[1][4][5]. Ginsenoside Rg3 is under clinical investigation for use in combination with chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer[1].

Brand names

Synapsin®

Other names

(20S)-ginsenoside Rg3(20S)-protopanaxadiol