What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to characterize the anti-breast cancer activity of red ginseng polysaccharide RGP-45, involving its extraction and purification.

February 28, 2026Open Access

Characterization and study on the anti-breast cancer activity of polysaccharides from red ginseng

Key Points

The research aims to characterize the anti-breast cancer activity of red ginseng polysaccharide RGP-45, involving its extraction and purification.
Extracted polysaccharides from red ginseng were purified and named RGP-45.
Characterization included determining yield, molecular weight, and sugar composition.
In vitro tests assessed effects on 4T1 cell proliferation and apoptosis.
In vivo tests evaluated RGP-45's impact on tumor growth in breast cancer mice models.
RGP-45 yielded 12.59% with a relative molecular weight of 27.8 kDa and total sugar content of 91.57%.
RGP-45 significantly inhibited 4T1 cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis.
In vivo, RGP-45 treatment inhibited tumor growth in mice.
RGP-45 treatment alleviated liver and lung damage in mice bearing tumors.

Abstract

Red ginseng polysaccharide (RGP) has increasingly attracted attention in the field of anti-tumor, due to its ability to directly kill tumor cells and improve the immune function. Nevertheless, studies on RGP of its extraction, purification, structural characterization, and activity of anti-breast cancer are still inadequate. In this research, the polysaccharide was extracted from red ginseng, purified and named RGP-45. Results indicated that the yield, relative molecular weight and total sugar content of RGP-45 are 12.59%, 27.8 kDa and 91.57%, respectively. RGP-45 is linked by α-type pyranose, and its main component, mass ratio are as follows: glucose (44.9%), glucuronic acid (34.6%), galactose (9.5%), galacturonic acid (6.8%) and arabinose (4.3%). RGP-45 could significantly inhibit the proliferation of 4T1 cells, promote the apoptosis of 4T1 cells and block 4T1 cells in the G0/G1 phase. These effects were accompanied by the up-regulation expression of Bax and down-regulation expression of Bcl-2. In vivo, the tumor growth of 4T1 breast cancer mice was inhibited by RGP-45 of 150 mg/kg. When combined with cisplatin, RGP-45 could effectively alleviate the inflammatory injury of liver and lung tissues. Meanwhile, RGP-45 could reduce the level of IL-10 in serum of tumor-bearing mice, up-regulate the expression of p53 and Bax, and down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 in tumor of breast cancer mice. As mentioned above, RGP-45 showed good anti-breast cancer activity in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, RGP-45 possesses the potential to be used as a candidate for the treatment of breast cancer in the future. • Red ginseng polysaccharide, named RGP-45, was extracted, purified and characterized. • RGP-45 inhibits proliferation, promotes apoptosis, blocks G0/G1 phase of 4Tl cells. • RGP-45 inhibited the tumor growth of 4T1 cells breast cancer mice. • RGP-45 treatment alleviates lung and liver damage of 4T1 cells breast cancer mice. • RGP-45 shows good anti-breast cancer activity in vitro and in vivo.

Read Full Paperexternally

Bookmark

View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Li et al. (Sun,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a286240a974eb0d3c00f1c https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rechem.2026.103186

Bookmark

View Full Paper