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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Pharmacology

Ginsenosides in hepatocellular carcinoma: preclinical evidence, mechanisms, and clinical implications

  • Caixin Yu1
  • Xinyue Zhu1
  • Shiqi Liu1
  • Yun Ding1
  • Hong Fu1
  • Yan Li2
  • Meichen Gai3
  • Mengyao Tan4
  • Zhongwei Zhao1
4 affiliations
  1. 1College of Special Education, Changchun University
  2. 2School of Medicine, Changchun University of Science and Technology
  3. 3Department of Internal Medicine, Guang’anmen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
  4. 4Qingdao Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide, with limited effectiveness of current strategies and persistent challenges in early detection and outcome prediction. This review summarizes the preclinical evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of ginsenosides from Panax ginseng—particularly Rh2 and Rg3—in HCC cellular and animal models. Mechanistically, the antitumor effects are discussed in relation to induction of apoptosis, modulation of autophagy and other cell-death–associated signaling, and reprogramming of the tumor microenvironment, alongside evidence for suppression of metastatic behavior and enhancement of antitumor immunity. Finally, the review provides clinical implications by highlighting how these mechanistic findings may inform future translation, including opportunities for rational combination regimens and drug delivery approaches to overcome key translational bottlenecks—particularly low bioavailability and the lack of reliable biomarkers for response prediction and patient stratification—to optimize clinical application. Overall, the available preclinical data suggest that ginsenosides are promising candidates for improving HCC management, while emphasizing the need for further mechanistically rigorous and translational studies to support clinical optimization.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{yu2026ginsenosides,
  title = {{Ginsenosides in hepatocellular carcinoma: preclinical evidence, mechanisms, and clinical implications}},
  author = {Caixin Yu and Xinyue Zhu and Shiqi Liu and Yun Ding and Hong Fu and Yan Li and Meichen Gai and Mengyao Tan and Zhongwei Zhao},
  journal = {Frontiers in Pharmacology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fphar.2026.1973780},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1973780/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Ginsenosides in hepatocellular carcinoma: preclinical evidence, mechanisms, and clinical implications
AU  - Caixin Yu
AU  - Xinyue Zhu
AU  - Shiqi Liu
AU  - Yun Ding
AU  - Hong Fu
AU  - Yan Li
AU  - Meichen Gai
AU  - Mengyao Tan
AU  - Zhongwei Zhao
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/22
JO  - Frontiers in Pharmacology
DO  - 10.3389/fphar.2026.1973780
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1973780/full
AB  - Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide, with limited effectiveness of current strategies and persistent challenges in early detection and outcome prediction. This review summarizes the preclinical evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of ginsenosides from Panax ginseng—particularly Rh2 and Rg3—in HCC cellular and animal models. Mechanistically, the antitumor effects are discussed in relation to induction of apoptosis, modulation of autophagy and other cell-death–associated signaling, and reprogramming of the tumor microenvironment, alongside evidence for suppression of metastatic behavior and enhancement of antitumor immunity. Finally, the review provides clinical implications by highlighting how these mechanistic findings may inform future translation, including opportunities for rational combination regimens and drug delivery approaches to overcome key translational bottlenecks—particularly low bioavailability and the lack of reliable biomarkers for response prediction and patient stratification—to optimize clinical application. Overall, the available preclinical data suggest that ginsenosides are promising candidates for improving HCC management, while emphasizing the need for further mechanistically rigorous and translational studies to support clinical optimization.
SN  - 1663-9812
ER  -