Inhibition of the hypoxia-induced factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor expression through ginsenoside Rg3 in human gastric cancer cells

Objective: The aim of this study is to probe in the inhibitory effects of ginsenoside Rg3 on the expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human gastric cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Human gastric cancer BGC823 cells were divided into the control group and experiment group, and expression levels of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF were detected by immunocytochemistry and Western blot after cells were cultured under hypoxia for different durations. Results: Under hypoxia, expression of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF in human gastric cancer BGC823 cells showed an increasing trend, and that was remarkably lower in experiment group than in the control group after applying Rg3, which was obvious at 12 and 24 h (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Rg3 can inhibit expression of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF in human gastric cancer cells and may influence abdominal implantation metastasis of gastric cancer through inhibiting its expression