Progress of Ginsenosides on Immunomodulation and Inhibition of Lung Cancer

Ginseng is characterized by low toxicity, multi-targeting and enhancement of body immunity in its anti-cancer effects. Ginsenosides are natural effective anti-cancer components, mainly consisting of diol-type, triol-type, and oleanolic acid-type ginsenosides. Ginsenosides are bio absorbed by intestinal flora through "Rb1-Gibberellin XVII-F2-CK-PPD", "Rb2-Rd-F2-CK-PPD", "Rg3-Rh2-PPD" and other pathways. It can be converted into saponins ck, Rh1, Rh2, Rc, PPD and other active ingredients. Metabolites of ginsenosides are used in the treatment of many types of cancers and have been shown to be effective. They function by modulating various immune cells in the body, for example, ginsenoside Rh2 significantly increases T-lymphocyte activity and significantly induces differentiation of M2 macrophages towards the M1 phenotype. Ginsenoside Rg3 can act as a cytotoxic activator of NK cells, which inhibits the growth of tumor cells and induces apoptosis and autophagy of tumor cells, and plays an inhibitory and therapeutic role in lung cancer and a variety of tumors, with certain prospects for application development. This review introduces mechanism and function of ginsenosides and discusses application in lung cancer.