Modified Ginseng Extract Induces Apoptosis in HepG2 Cancer Cells by Blocking the CXCL8-Mediated Akt/Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling Pathway

The cytokine C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) is produced in the tumor microenvironment and has an important role in cancer pathogenesis. CXCL8 activates the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling. However, the role of NF-κB inactivation in apoptosis induced by negative regulation of CXCL8 remains unclear. Here, we assessed the effects of MRGX on the transcriptional activity of NF-κB and the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated target genes in liver cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that modified regular ginseng extract (MRGX)-mediated inhibition of NF-κB signaling induced apoptosis. Importantly, MRGX exerted strong activity, inhibiting TNF-α-induced expression of Akt and NF-κB in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, MRGX inhibited the TNF-α-induced expression of genes encoding CXCL8, CXCL1, inducible nitric oxide synthase and intercellular adhesion molecule 1. MRGX also dowregulated Akt activation, and there was a significant decrease in Akt activation in HepG2 cells treated...