Effects of ginsenoside compound K on colitis-associated colorectal cancer and gut microbiota profiles in mice

BACKGROUND: Ginsenoside compound K (GC-K), generated from ginseng saponins bioconverted by gut microbiota, has potential anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) effects. Meanwhile, GC-K may interact with gut microbiota, playing important roles in the occurrence and development of CRC. However, the effects of gut microbiota on the preventive and therapeutic effects of GC-K in CRC remain to be elucidated. METHODS: The anti-CRC effects of GC-K were evaluated in an azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS)-induced colitis-associated CRC Balb/c mice model under the dosage of 30 and 60 mg/kg. Stool samples were collected during the experiments for profiling gut microbiota by 16S rRNA sequencing. Correlative analysis between gut microbiota and anti-CRC effect of GC-K was also assessed. Finally, the anti-CRC effect of Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) was validated in CRC cell lines. RESULTS: GC-K could significantly suppress tumor growth in vivo at the dosage of 60 mg/kg without exogenous interference of gut microbiota. Moreover, dysbiosis of gut microbiota was observed in the CRC model group, which could be recovered by GC-K treatment. In particular, A. muciniphila, which could inhibit the proliferation of HCT-116, HT-29, and LOVO cells, was significantly up-regulated by GC-K. CONCLUSIONS: GC-K was verified to suppress the tumor growth of AOM/DSS-induced colitis-associated CRC through the modulation of gut microbiota, partially by up-regulation of A. muciniphila.