Ginseng and Anticancer Drug Combination to Improve Cancer Chemotherapy: A Critical Review

Table 4

Clinical studies of ginseng in combination with other anticancer drugs.

Ginseng products	Source	Study design	Anticancer drug	Cancer type	Endpoints and results	Reference
Shengmai (Chinese herbal preparation consisting of red ginseng, lilyturf root, and magnolia vine fruits)	Ya, an Sanjiu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, China	Randomized controlled open design, two groups: (1) control group (𝑛=28): anticancer drugs alone,; (2) treatment group (𝑛=33): anticancer drugs + Shengmai 100 mL/day, 14 days + Gujin Granule (a Chinese herbal remedy) 10 g, t.i.d., po. 6 months	Navelbine + cisplatin	Non-small-cell lung cancer	(i) Response rate: 48.5% (16/33) in treatment versus 32.2% (9/28) in control groups, 𝑃<0.05; (ii) median survival time: 13-month treatment group versus 9-month control group, 𝑃<0.05; (iii) 1-year survival rate: NS; (iv) median time to progression: NS; (v) hematological toxicity: NS; (vi) cycles of chemotherapy: NS	[40]
	China, no detailed description	Two groups: (1) routine group (𝑛=56): infuse 80 mL Shengmai alone after chemotherapy; (2) improved group (𝑛=75): infuse Shengmai 40 mL before and after chemotherapy, respectively	No detailed description	No detailed description	Chemotherapy induced phlebitis: 𝑃<0.01 (incidence 20% in improved group, 50% in routine group)	[41]
		Two groups: (1) control group (𝑛=26): anticancer drugs alone, 21-day/cycle, 2 cycles; (2) test group (𝑛=33): anticancer drugs + infuse Shengmai 50 mL 14-day/cycle, 2 cycles	Etoposide + folinic acid + 5-FU	Advanced gastric cancer	(i) Life quality improvement: 𝑃<0.05; (ii) Reduce drug induced: 𝑃<0.05; (iii) Gastrointestinal effect; (iv) Myelosuppression	[42]
	Sen-Ten Pharmaceutical Company, Taiwan	Randomized, double-blind, two groups: (1) test group,; (2) placebo-control group, 4 weeks	No detailed description	No detailed description	Antifatigue activity (ongoing)	[43]
Ginsenoside Rg3	YaTai Pharmaceutical Company, China	Two groups: (1) control group (𝑛=30): anticancer drugs + Rg3 capsule; (2) test group (𝑛=61): anticancer drugs + Rg3 table	No detailed description	Breast cancer	Immunoimprovement: (i) increase level of T cell subtype function (CD4/CD8), 𝑃<0.001; (ii) improve symptoms of Q-deficiency according TCM, 𝑃<0.01 or 𝑃<0.05	[44]
		Randomized, prospective, multicenter, two groups: (1) placebo group (𝑛=61); (2) test group (𝑛=54): Rg3 capsule, po, b.i.d.,	vinorelbine + cisplatin	Advanced non-small-cell lung cancer	(i) Improve response rate: 𝑃<0.05; (ii) Improve survival time: 9.7 months (mean) and 8.0 months (median) in placebo group; 15.3 months (mean) and 10.0 month (median) in test group; 𝑃<0.01; (iii) Weight, general conditions, and adverb reactions: 𝑃>0.05	[45]
		Randomized controlled trial, two groups: (1) control group (𝑛=30); (2) treatment group (𝑛=30): Rg3 capsule, po, 20 mg, b.i.d., 30 days	Gemcitabine + cisplatin	Advanced esophageal cancer	(i) Improve response rate: NS; (ii) Improve quality of life: 𝑃<0.05; (iii) Increase 1-year survival rate: 𝑃<0.05; (iv) Reduce drug induced adverse reaction: nausea and vomiting, WBC and PLT counts; 𝑃<0.05	[46]