Gintonin Isolated from Ginseng Inhibits the Epithelial—Mesenchymal Transition Induced by TGF-β in A549 Lung Cancer Cells

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EM transition) is a process wherein epithelial cells lose their intrinsic characteristics and cell–cell junctions differentiate into mesenchymal phenotype. EM an important feature of cancer invasion metastasis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect gintonin (GT), ingredient ginseng, on using A549 cells. The proliferation was enhanced following treatment with 50, 75, 100 μg/mL GT. GT affected transition-induced gene protein expression, specifically that vimentin (Vim), N-cadherin (N-cad), zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1, Twist in Furthermore, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced phosphorylation Smad2 Smad3 suppressed by treatment. Immunofluorescence staining also showed decreased TGF-β1-induced expression Vim N-cad Therefore, may be used suppress cell metastasis via maintenance junction’s integrity. However, further studies are required pave way for its translation clinical application therapeutics.