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Ginsenoside Rh2 stimulates the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and induces apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting mitochondrial electron transfer chain complex

  • Authors:
    • Ying Liu
    • Shiting Yu
    • Xin Xing
    • Juhui Qiao
    • Yiqiu Yin
    • Jiawen Wang
    • Meichen Liu
    • Wei Zhang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 28, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.12513
  • Article Number: 873
  • Copyright: © Liu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Ginsenoside Rh2 (G‑Rh2) is a monomeric compound that extracted from ginseng and possesses anti‑cancer activities both in vitro and in vivo. Previously, we reported that G‑Rh2 induces apoptosis in HeLa cervical cancer cells and that the process was related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the upstream mechanisms of G‑Rh2, along with its cellular targets, remain to be elucidated. In the present study, the Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay, flow cytometry and Hoechst staining revealed that G‑Rh2 significantly inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis of cervical cancer cells. However, G‑Rh2 was demonstrated to be non‑toxic to End1/e6e7 cells. JC‑1, rhodamine 123 staining, oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis capacity assays demonstrated that G‑Rh2 exposure caused an immediate decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential due to its inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, as well as glycolysis, both of which reduced cellular ATP production. Western blotting and electron transport chain (ETC) activity assays revealed that G‑Rh2 significantly inhibited the activity of ETC complexes I, III and V. Overexpression of ETC complex III partially significantly restored mitochondrial ROS and inhibited the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells induced by G‑Rh2. The predicted results of binding energy in molecular docking, confirmed that G‑Rh2 was highly likely to induce mitochondrial ROS production and promote cell apoptosis by targeting the ETC complex, especially for ETC complex III. Taken together, the present results revealed the potential anti‑cervical cancer activity of G‑Rh2 and provide direct evidence for the contribution of impaired ETC complex activity to cervical cancer cell death.
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December-2021
Volume 24 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Liu Y, Yu S, Xing X, Qiao J, Yin Y, Wang J, Liu M and Zhang W: Ginsenoside Rh2 stimulates the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and induces apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting mitochondrial electron transfer chain complex. Mol Med Rep 24: 873, 2021.
APA
Liu, Y., Yu, S., Xing, X., Qiao, J., Yin, Y., Wang, J. ... Zhang, W. (2021). Ginsenoside Rh2 stimulates the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and induces apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting mitochondrial electron transfer chain complex. Molecular Medicine Reports, 24, 873. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.12513
MLA
Liu, Y., Yu, S., Xing, X., Qiao, J., Yin, Y., Wang, J., Liu, M., Zhang, W."Ginsenoside Rh2 stimulates the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and induces apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting mitochondrial electron transfer chain complex". Molecular Medicine Reports 24.6 (2021): 873.
Chicago
Liu, Y., Yu, S., Xing, X., Qiao, J., Yin, Y., Wang, J., Liu, M., Zhang, W."Ginsenoside Rh2 stimulates the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and induces apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting mitochondrial electron transfer chain complex". Molecular Medicine Reports 24, no. 6 (2021): 873. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.12513