Genetic and epigenetic responses of normal and cancer cells to Panax notoginseng.

• Main Author: Wang, Meiling.
• Other Authors: School of Biological Sciences
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences::Genetics
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/20718
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Panax notoginseng (PNG) is known as San Qi or Tian Qi in Chinese medicine. Its diverse properties include and are not limited to immunopotentiation, angiogenesis, and inhibiting of cell proliferation via a p53 independent pathway. Being an adaptogen, PNG is likely to illicit genomic activities like transcription and methylation to regulate gene expression. This study aims to probe the genome of cancer and normal cells for gross genetic and epigenetic activities from exposure to ethanol and water extracts of PNG, by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Dose-dependent concentrations of raw and steamed PNG water extracts altered the RAPD profiles of native and MspI and HpaII digested genomic DNA of H1299 (NSCLC) cells. Genetic and Epigenetic differences were also detected in MRC5 (non-transformed lung cells), following steamed PNG water extract treatment. RAPD profiles of chicken embryonic fibroblasts (McrBC digested) also revealed epigenetic changes in a dose-dependent response for high concentrations of steamed water and methanol PNG extracts. Steamed PNG products could potentially bring about genetic and epigenetic alterations to both non-transformed and cancerous cells.