(20S)-Protopanaxadiol (20-Epiprotopanaxadiol) is an aglycon metabolic derivative of the protopanaxadiol-type ginseng saponin; apoptosis inducer.IC50 value:Target: apoptosis inducer(20S)-Protopanaxadiol was used to induce cytotoxicity for two human glioma cell lines, SF188 and U87MG. For the SF188 cells, (20S)-Protopanaxadiol activated caspases-3, -8, -7, and -9 within 3 h and induced rapid apoptosis, which could be partially inhibited by a general caspase blocker and completely abolished when the caspase blocker was used in combination with an antioxidant. (20S)-Protopanaxadiol also induced cell death in U87MG cells but did not activate any caspases in these cells [1]. aPPD was able to inhibit P-gp activity as potently as verapamil on MDR cells. The blockage of P-gp activity was highly reversible as wash-out of aPPD resulted in an immediate recovery of P-gp activity. Unlike verapamil, aPPD did not affect ATPase activity of P-gp suggesting a different mechanism of action [2].
References:
[1]. Liu GY, et al. 20S-protopanaxadiol-induced programmed cell death in glioma cells through caspase-dependent and -independent pathways. J Nat Prod. 2007 Feb;70(2):259-64.
[2]. Zhao Y, et al. 20S-protopanaxadiol inhibits P-glycoprotein in multidrug resistant cancer cells. Planta Med. 2009 Aug;75(10):1124-8.