Cytotoxicity of Compound K and Ginsenoside $R_{h2}$ against some tumor cells

When ginsenoside $R_{b1}$ and $R_{b2}$ were anaerobically incubated with human fecal microflora, these ginsenosides were metabolized to compound K. When ginsenoside $R_{g3}$ was anaerobically incubated with human fecal microflora, the ginsenoside $R_{g3}$ was metabolized it to ginsenoside $R_{h2}$. Among ginsenosides, compound K and 20(S)-ginsenoside $R_h2$ exhibited the most potent cyotoxicity against tumor cells: 50% cytotoxic concentrations of compound K in the media with and without fetal bovine serum (FBS) were 27.1 - 31.6 mM and0.1 - 0.6 mM, and those of 20(S)-ginsenoside $R_h2$ were 37.5 $\rightarrow$ 50 and 0.7 - 7.1 mM mM, respectively. (omitted)