Mechanisms of ginsenoside and oridonin inducing cancer cell apoptosis

Apoptosis plays a critical role in tumor genesis and progression. Induction of cancer cell apoptosis with traditional Chinese medicines is at present a hot topic in the research of cancer therapy. It has been found that many active components of traditional Chinese medicines can induce cancer cell apoptosis; ginsenoside and oridonin are two of them that have been studied relatively thoroughly. The mechanisms that ginsenoside and oridonin induce cancer cell apoptosis include arresting cell cycle progression, up-regulating expression of apoptotic promoting proteins, down-regulating expression of apoptotic inhibiting proteins, and activating caspase cascade. Key words: Apoptosis;  Neoplasms;  Drugs, Chinese herbal