Cancer is a global public health issue that becomes the second primary cause of death globally. Considering the side effects of radio- or chemo-therapy, natural phytochemicals are promising alternatives for therapeutic interventions to alleviate the side effects and complications. Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is the main phytochemical extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer with anticancer activity. GRh2 could induce apoptosis and autophagy of cancer cells and inhibit proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. In addition, GRh2 could be used as an adjuvant to chemotherapeutics to enhance the anticancer effect and reverse the adverse effects. Here we summarized the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of GRh2 and proposed future directions to promote the development and application of GRh2.

癌症是全球公共卫生问题，已成为全球第二大死因。考虑到放疗或化疗的副作用，天然植物化学物质是治疗干预的有前途的替代品，可减轻副作用和并发症。Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) 是从 Panax ginseng CA Meyer 中提取的主要植物化学物质，具有抗癌活性。GRh2在体外和体内可诱导癌细胞凋亡和自噬并抑制增殖、转移、侵袭和血管生成. 此外，GRh2可作为化疗药物的辅助药物，增强抗癌作用，逆转不良反应。在这里，我们总结了对GRh2抗癌作用的分子机制的理解，并提出了促进GRh2开发和应用的未来方向。