Steamed ginseng-leaf components enhance cytotoxic effects on human leukemia HL-60 cells.

Three new dammarane-type glycosides, named ginsenosides SL(1)-SL(3) (1-3), and eleven known compounds (4-14) were isolated from the heat-processed leaves of Panax ginseng. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive chemical and spectroscopic methods. Cytotoxic-activity testing of compounds 1-14 against human leukemia HL-60 cells showed that ginsenosides Rh(3) (11) and Rk(2) (12) exhibited potent effects with IC(50) values of 0.8 and 0.9 microM. In addition, ginsenosides SL(3) (3), 20S-Rg(2) (7), F(4) (10), 20S-Rh(2) (13) displayed strong activity with IC(50) values of 9.0, 9.0, 7.5, and 8.2 microM, respectively. This is the first report on chemical components of the steamed ginseng leaves.