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# American ginseng extract prevents breast cancer
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/american_ginseng_extract_prevents_breast_cancer_0928130933/
- Published: 2013-09-28T10:32:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:47:01.000Z
- Description: Oregon State researchers found a crude American ginseng fraction inhibited the growth of cultured human breast cancer cells and killed them at high doses. Cells exposed to both estradiol and ginsenosides did not grow, which the team reads as evidence the ginsenosides act as antiestrogens.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Phytochemicals, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Saturday Spet 28, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study suggests that American ginseng extract may help prevent the development of the breast cancer that is promoted by female sex hormones like estrogen, particularly estradiol. An American ginseng extract is prepared from American ginseng root and used as a dietary supplement for a variety of medical conditions.

The study led by Oregon State University researchers Sharon K. Krueger, Ph.D. and David E. Williams, Ph.D. shows that a crude fraction of American ginseng inhibited the growth of in vitro human breast cancer cells and at high doses, this ginseng extract was able to kill the cultured breast cancer cells.

Early cell culture studies have demonstrated some ginsenosides have anticancer effects including dose-dependent inhibition of cancer cell growth and invasion, tumor cell toxicity, reverse transformation of tumor cells, the researchers say. The study was conducted because ginsenosides have a steroidal structure and the researchers believe the phytoestrogens found in American ginseng may have profound anticancer effects on hormonally regulated cancers like breast cancer. 

On the other hand, the study shows that breast cancer cells exposed to an exogenic steroidal hormone estrogen called estradiol grow faster than those that were not exposed to the hormone. This is not surprising as it has been known that some breast cancer is promoted by estrogen. But when breast cancer cells were treated with both the estrogen and ginsenosides, they did not grow, indicating that ginsenosides can affect the estrogen receptor, the researchers say in a statement.

The study concluded that ginsenosides found in American ginseng are not estrogenic and most of them are antiestrogenic and inhibit the proliferation and growth of hormone-dependent breast cancer.

The study indicates that a crude American ginseng extract may be a better anticancer agent than individual ginsenosides. (JD)