Exploring the Mechanism of Ginsenoside Rg3 in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Proteomics Technology

LIU Yang; LEI Qian; YU Fenghua; WANG Xiaoying; LYU Aiping; NING Zhangchi; HE Xiaojuan

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-3250.2026.02.021

Abstract：Objective To explore the mechanism of ginsenoside Rg3 in treating hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)using proteomics technology.Methods C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with Hepa1-6 cells to induce subcutaneous HCC models.When tumor volume reached 100-150 mm3,the mice were randomly divided into model group,ginsenoside Rg3 group,and sorafenib group,and administered the corresponding drugs by gavage.After 14 days,the mice were euthanized,tumors were excised,and tumor weights were measured to calculate tumor inhibition rates.Histopathological morphology of tumor tissues was observed by HE staining.Proteomic sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed proteins among groups,which were then annotated for GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis.Results Tumor weight in the ginsenoside Rg3-treated group was significantly lower than that in the model group(P<0.05).The tumor inhibition rate was 65.3%in the ginsenoside Rg3 group and 77.84%in the sorafenib group.Pathological analysis showed higher cancer cell density and vigorous growth in the model group,while the ginsenoside Rg3 group had lower cancer cell density with areas of necrosis,and the sorafenib group had even lower cancer cell density with large areas of necrosis.Proteomic analysis revealed 65 upregulated and 24 downregulated differentially expressed proteins in the ginsenoside Rg3 group compared to the model group,and 59 upregulated and 13 downregulated proteins in the sorafenib group compared to the model group.GO analysis indicated that differentially expressed proteins in the ginsenoside Rg3 group were mainly enriched in biological processes such as complement and coagulation cascades,thermogenesis,lipid metabolism,and negative regulation of intracellular signal transduction.KEGG analysis showed that these proteins were primarily involves in thermogenesis,lipid metabolism,regulation of tumor necrosis factor production,and complement and coagulation cascades in muscle.Conclusion The inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on HCC involves processes including thermogenesis,lipid metabolism,regulation of tumor necrosis factor production,and complement and coagulation cascade.