Objective: To extract effective components from Panax ginseng

P. quinquefolium

P. japonicas and P. notoginseng

and compare their inhibitory activities against ovarian cancer HEY cells. Method: Water and ethanol extracts of P. ginseng

P. quinquefolium

P. japonicas and P. notoginseng were prepared by reflux extraction with water and ethanol. Total saponins and their panaxadiol saponin (PDS) and panaxtrol saponin (PTS) fractions were prepared from 70% ethanol water extracts of above herbs using macroporous resin chromatography. 3-(4

5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2

5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to detect the activities of these extracts and fractions against HEY ovarian cancer cells. propidium iodide(PI) staining was used to detect the effect of extracts on cell cycle distribution

and western blot was performed to detect their effect on expression of cell cycle related proteins. In addition

scratch assay was conducted to detect the effect of extracts on cell migration. Result: All the indicated extracts showed varied activities against HEY cells. Among them

panaxadiol saponin of P. quinquefolium (PDSPQ)

total saponin of P. japonicas (TSPJ)

ethanol extract of P. ginseng (EEPG)

total saponin of P. ginseng (TSPG)

and panaxadiol saponin of of P. ginseng(PDSPG) showed relative higher inhibitory rate against HEY cells

with 45.59%

45.78%

50.48%

46.98% and 64.36%

respectively. Further

PDSPQ

TSPG

and PDSPG could down-regulate the expressions of CDK4

CDK6

and cyclin D1 to different degrees

but had no significant effect on the migration of HEY cells. Conclusion: Fractions with PDS were more effective on inhibiting HEY cells growth

and the mechanism may be associated with down-regulating the protein expressions of CDK4

CDK6

and cyclin D1.