The ways for ginsenoside Rh2 to fight against cancer: the molecular evidences in vitro and in vivo.

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.