Evaluation of Anti-Tumor Activity of a Novel Ginsenoside Derivative RPPT in Vitro

Objective The anti-tumor effects of 3-O-α-D-furanoribosyl-damar-24-ene-3β, 6α, 12β, 20S-tetraol (RPPT) in vitro were explored in the present study. Methods This study initially employed the CCK-8 proliferation inhibition assay to systematically evaluate RPPT's anticancer activity against three distinct tumor cell lineages and its cytotoxic effects on primary normal cell lines. Subsequently, multiparameter flow cytometry was utilized to characterize RPPT's functional attributes, quantitatively analyzing its apoptotic induction efficacy and dose-dependent cell cycle arrest patterns. Furthermore, Transwell migration assays were conducted to determine the derivative's capacity to inhibit tumor cell motility. Results In vitro cytotoxicity assays demonstrate that RPPT exhibits significantly enhanced selective cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines compared to its natural precursor compound protopanaxatriol. Under same concentration conditions, this derivative demonstrates equivalent biological efficacy to the reference compound Rg3, characterized by dose-dependent inhibitory characteristics. The experimental data reveal that RPPT effectively suppresses tumor cell proliferation through concentration-dependent mechanisms, while maintaining no statistically significant cytotoxic effects on normal cell lines within the tested concentration ranges. Subsequent flow cytometry analysis revealed that RPPT suppress the cell cycle progression by blocking cell entry into the G0/G1 phase, and promoting cell apoptosis. Furthermore, Western blot analysis showed that RPPT could regulate the modulated the equilibrium between anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic Bax, coupled with Caspase-9 activation, indicating that RPPT might facilitate tumor cells apoptosis by activating the apoptotic signaling pathway. Moreover, RPPT could efficiently inhibit the invasion and metastasis. Conclusions In summary, the studies showed that the new derivative RPPT has a strong growth inhibition effect on tumor cells, which expands new sources for subsequent development of potential anti-tumor drugs with more efficacy.