Synergistic Impact of d-δ-Tocotrienol and Geranylgeraniol on the Growth and HMG CoA Reductase of Human DU145 Prostate Carcinoma Cells

In Vivo, In Vitro and In Silico Anticancer Activity of Ilama Leaves: An Edible and Medicinal Plant in Mexico

Ilama leaves are an important source of secondary metabolites with promising anticancer properties. Cancer is a disease that affects a great number of people worldwide. This work aimed to investigate the in vivo, in vitro and in silico anticancer properties of three acyclic terpenoids (geranylgeraniol, phytol and farnesyl acetate) isolated from petroleum ether extract of ilama leaves. Their cytotoxic activity against U-937 cells was assessed using flow cytometry to determine the type of cell death and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Also, a morphological analysis of the lymph nodes and a molecular docking study using three proteins related with cancer as targets, namely, Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and VEGFR-2, were performed. The flow cytometry and histomorphological analysis revealed that geranylgeraniol, phytol and farnesyl acetate induced the death of U-937 cells by late apoptosis and necrosis. Geranylgeraniol and phytol induced a significant increase in ROS production. The molecular docking studies showed that geranylgeraniol had more affinity for Bcl-2 and VEGFR-2. In the case of farnesyl acetate, it showed the best affinity for Mcl-1. This study provides information that supports the anticancer potential of geranylgeraniol, phytol and farnesyl acetate as compounds for the treatment of cancer, particularly with the potential to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Targeting Dysregulated Lipid Metabolism in Cancer with Pharmacological Inhibitors

Metabolic plasticity is recognised as a hallmark of cancer cells, enabling adaptation to microenvironmental changes throughout tumour progression. A dysregulated lipid metabolism plays a pivotal role in promoting oncogenesis. Oncogenic signalling pathways, such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, JAK/STAT, Hippo, and NF-kB, intersect with the lipid metabolism to drive tumour progression. Furthermore, altered lipid signalling in the tumour microenvironment contributes to immune dysfunction, exacerbating oncogenesis. This review examines the role of lipid metabolism in tumour initiation, invasion, metastasis, and cancer stem cell maintenance. We highlight cybernetic networks in lipid metabolism to uncover avenues for cancer diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics.

Tocotrienol isoforms: The molecular mechanisms underlying their effects in cancer therapy and their implementation in clinical trials

Tocotrienols are found in a variety of natural sources, like rice bran, annatto seeds and palm oil, and have been shown to have several health-promoting properties, particularly against chronic diseases such as cancer. The incidence of cancer is rapidly increasing around the world, not only a result of continued aging and population growth, but also due to the adoption of aspects of the Western lifestyle, such as high-fat diets and low-physical activity. The literature provides strong evidence that tocotrienols are able to inhibit the growth of various cancers, including breast, lung, ovarian, prostate, liver, brain, colon, myeloma and pancreatic cancers. These findings, along with the reported safety profile of tocotrienols in healthy human volunteers, encourage further research into these compounds' potential use in cancer prevention and treatment. The current review provided detailed information about the molecular mechanisms of action of different tocotrienol isoforms in various cancer models and evaluated the potential therapeutic effects of different vitamin E analogues on important cancer hallmarks, such as cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastasis. MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus databases were used to identify recently published articles that investigated the anticancer effects of vitamin E derivatives in various types of cancer in vitro and in vivo along with clinical evidence of adjuvant chemopreventive benefits. Following an overview of pre-clinical studies, we describe several completed and ongoing clinical trials that are paving the way for the successful implementation of tocotrienols in cancer chemotherapy.

Effects of Bushen Yiyuan recipe on testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells of rats with exercise-induced low serum testosterone levels

CONTEXT

Bushen Yiyuan recipe (BYR) is an effective Chinese prescription with antifatigue and antioxidation effects.

OBJECTIVE

The effects of BYR on testosterone synthesis in rat Leydig cells with exercise-induced low serum testosterone levels (EILST) are assessed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were chronically trained for 6 weeks to establish an EILST model. EILST rats were divided into model (physiological saline), EFE (700 mg/kg ethanol extract of Epimedii folium, the dried leaves of Epimedium brevicornu Maxim [Berberidaceae]), and BYR groups (350 and 700 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. Expression of HMG-CoA, LDL-R, SR-BI, STAR and CYP11A1 were quantified by RT qPCR and Western blots.

RESULTS

Compared with the model group (115.52 ± 13.05 μg/dL; 67.83 ± 14.29; 0.32 ± 0.04; 0.33 ± 0.02; 0.38 ± 0.01), serum testosterone, testosterone/cortisol ratio, HMG-CoA, STAR and CYP11A1 relative protein expression significantly increased in low-dose BYR (210.60 ± 5.08 μg/dL; 119.38 ± 13.02; 0.47 ± 0.01; 0.46 ± 0.03; 0.46 ± 0.02), high-dose BYR (220.57 ± 14.71 μg/dL; 124.26 ± 14.79; 0.49 ± 0.02; 0.42 ± 0.03; 0.51 ± 0.02), and EFE groups (206.83 ± 5.54 μg/dL; 119.53 ± 25.04; 0.45 ± 0.02; 0.42 ± 0.02; 0.41 ± 0.02) (all p < 0.01, except for CYP11A1 in EFE group). HMG-CoA, STAR and CYP11A1 mRNA relative expression significantly increased in low-dose and high-dose BYR group compared to model group (all p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

BYR affects endogenous cholesterol synthesis and testosterone synthesis to prevent and treat EILST levels in rats. It can improve the body's sports ability.

Understanding the Antilymphoma Activity of Annona macroprophyllata Donn and Its Acyclic Terpenoids: In Vivo, In Vitro, and In Silico Studies

Annona macroprophyllata Donn (A. macroprophyllata) is used in traditional Mexican medicine for the treatment of cancer, diabetes, inflammation, and pain. In this work, we evaluated the antitumor activity of three acyclic terpenoids obtained from A. macroprophyllata to assess their potential as antilymphoma agents. We identified the terpenoids farnesyl acetate (FA), phytol (PT) and geranylgeraniol (Gg) using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and spectroscopic (¹H, and ¹³C NMR) methods applied to petroleum ether extract of leaves from A. macroprophyllata (PEAm). We investigated antitumor potential in Balb/c mice inoculated with U-937 cells by assessing brine shrimp lethality (BSL), and cytotoxic activity in these cells. In addition, to assess the potential toxicity of PEAm, FA, PT and Gg in humans, we tested their acute oral toxicity in mice. Our results showed that the three terpenoids exhibited considerable antilymphoma and cytotoxic activity. In terms of lethality, we determined a median lethal dose (LD₅₀) for thirteen isolated products of PEAm. Gg, PT and AF all exhibited a higher lethality with values of 1.41 ± 0.42, 3.03 ± 0.33 and 5.82 ± 0.58 µg mL^-1, respectively. To assess cytotoxic activity against U-937 cells, we calculated the mean cytotoxic concentration (CC₅₀) and found that FA and PT were closer in respect to the control drug methotrexate (MTX, 0.243 ± 0.007 µM). In terms of antilymphoma activity, we found that FA, PT and Gg considerably inhibited lymph node growth, with median effective doses (ED₅₀) of 5.89 ± 0.39, 6.71 ± 0.31 and 7.22 ± 0.51 mg kg^-1 in females and 5.09 ± 0.66, 5.83 ± 0.50 and 6.98 ± 0.57mg kg ^-1 in males, respectively. Regarding acute oral toxicity, we classified all three terpenoids as category IV, indicating a high safety margin for human administration. Finally, in a molecular docking study of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, we found binding of terpenoids to some amino acids of the catalytic site, suggesting an effect upon activity with a resulting decrease in the synthesis of intermediates involved in the prenylation of proteins involved in cancer progression. Our findings suggest that the acyclic terpenoids FA, PT, and Gg may serve as scaffolds for the development of new treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

δ-Tocotrienol induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma has a notably high incidence rate in Southern China, Southeast Asia, North Africa, Middle East, and the Arctic. δ-Tocotrienol is abundant in cereal and has some health benefits. In our recent study, we showed that δ-tocotrienol exerted anti-inflammatory effects in murine macrophages in vitro. The aim of this study was to further investigate the chemopreventive effects of δ-tocotrienol on human CNE1 cells. We showed that δ-tocotrienol induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G₀/G₁ and M phases in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Microarray analysis revealed that after CNE1 cells were treated with δ-tocotrienol, 169 genes were up-regulated and 167 down-regulated. ERK1/2 was shown to play a vital role in cell cycle arrest by gene chips. The results suggest that δ-tocotrienol induces cell cycle arrest in CNE1 cells via the p16/CDK4/cyclin D1 signaling pathway. Western blots showed that CNE1 apoptosis was related to dysregulated expression of Bax-2 and Bcl-2. Furthermore, caspase-3, -8, -9 up-regulation was related to the apoptotic effect of δ-tocotrienol; therefore, δ-tocotrienol triggers apoptosis in CNE1 cells through caspase-3 signaling. δ-Tocotrienol may potentially be developed as an anti-cancer agent in the management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Synergistic Impact of Xanthorrhizol and d-δ-Tocotrienol on the Proliferation of Murine B16 Melanoma Cells and Human DU145 Prostate Carcinoma Cells

Isoprenoids suppress the mevalonate pathway that provides prenyl groups for the posttranslational modification of growth-regulating proteins. We hypothesize that xanthorrhizol and d-δ-tocotrienol synergistically suppress the growth of murine B16 melanoma and human DU145 prostate carcinoma cells. Xanthorrhizol (0-200 µmol/L; half maximal inhibitory concentration [IC₅₀] = 65 µmol/L) and d-δ-tocotrienol (0-40 µmol/L; IC₅₀ = 20 µmol/L) each induced a concentration-dependent suppression of the proliferation of B16 cells and concurrent cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase. A blend of 16.25 µmol/L xanthorrhizol and 10 µmol/L d-δ-tocotrienol suppressed B16 cell proliferation by 69%, an impact greater than the sum of those induced by xanthorrhizol (15%) and d-δ-tocotrienol (12%) individually. The blend cumulatively reduced the levels of cyclin-dependent kinase four and cyclin D1, key regulators of cell cycle progression at the G1 phase. The expression of RAS and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) in the proliferation-stimulating RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway was downregulated by the blend. Xanthorrhizol also induced a concentration-dependent suppression of the proliferation of DU145 cells with concomitant morphological changes. Isobologram confirmed the synergistic effect of xanthorrhizol and d-δ-tocotrienol on DU145 cell proliferation with combination index values ranging 0.61-0.94. Novel combinations of isoprenoids with synergistic actions may offer effective approaches in cancer prevention and therapy.

Influence of Diet and Nutrition on Prostate Cancer

The incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) displays widespread regional differences, probably owing to differences in dietary habits. Nutrients, including fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins (vitamin A, D, and E), and polyphenols, potentially affect PCa pathogenesis and progression, as previously reported using animal models; however, clinical studies have reported controversial results for almost all nutrients. The effects of these nutrients may be manifested through various mechanisms including inflammation, antioxidant effects, and the action of sex hormones. Dietary patterns including the Western and Prudent patterns also influence the risk of PCa. Recent studies reported that the gut microbiota contribute to tumorigenesis in some organs. Diet composition and lifestyle have a direct and profound effect on the gut bacteria. Human studies reported an increase in the abundance of specific gut bacteria in PCa patients. Although there are few studies concerning their relationship, diet and nutrition could influence PCa, and this could be mediated by gut microbiota. An intervention of dietary patterns could contribute to the prevention of PCa. An intervention targeting dietary patterns may thus help prevent PCa.

Tocotrienols and Cancer: From the State of the Art to Promising Novel Patents

BACKGROUND

Tocotrienols (TTs) are vitamin E derivatives naturally occurring in several plants and vegetable oils. Like Tocopherols (TPs), they comprise four isoforms, α, β, γ and δ, but unlike TPs, they present an unsaturated isoprenoid chain. Recent studies indicate that TTs provide important health benefits, including neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, cholesterol lowering and immunomodulatory effects. Moreover, they have been found to possess unique anti-cancer properties.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the state of the art of TTs role in cancer prevention and treatment, as well as to describe recent patents proposing new methods for TTs isolation, chemical modification and use in cancer prevention and/or therapy.

METHODS

Recent literature and patents focusing on TTs anti-cancer applications have been identified and reviewed, with special regard to their scientific impact and novelty.

RESULTS

TTs have demonstrated significant anti-cancer activity in multiple tumor types, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, they have shown synergistic effects when given in combination with standard anti-cancer agents or other anti-tumor natural compounds. Finally, new purification processes and transgenic sources have been designed in order to improve TTs production, and novel TTs formulations and synthetic derivatives have been developed to enhance their solubility and bioavailability.

CONCLUSION

The promising anti-cancer effects shown by TTs in several preclinical studies may open new opportunities for therapeutic interventions in different tumors. Thus, clinical trials aimed at confirming TTs chemopreventive and tumor-suppressing activity, particularly in combination with standard therapies, are urgently needed.

The stimulatory impact of d-δ-Tocotrienol on the differentiation of murine MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts

Osteoblasts and osteoclasts play essential and opposite roles in maintaining bone homeostasis. Osteoblasts fill cavities excavated by osteoclasts. The mevalonate pathway provides essential prenyl pyrophosphates for the activities of GTPases that promote differentiation of osteoclasts but suppress that of osteoblasts. Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that mevalonate suppressors such as statins increase bone mineral density and reduce risk of bone fracture. Tocotrienols down-regulate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. In vivo studies have shown the bone-protective activity of tocotrienols. We hypothesize that d-δ-tocotrienol, a mevalonate suppressor, induces differentiation of murine MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts. Alizarin staining showed that d-δ-tocotrienol (0-25 μmol/L) induced mineralized nodule formation in a concentration-dependent manner in MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts. d-δ-Tocotrienol (0-25 μmol/L), but not D-α-tocopherol (25 μmol/L), significantly induced alkaline phosphatase activity, an indicator of preosteoblast differentiation. The expression of differentiation marker genes including BMP-2 and VEGFα was stimulated dose dependently by d-δ-tocotrienol (0-25 μmol/L). Concomitantly, Western blot analysis showed that d-δ-tocotrienol down-regulated HMG CoA reductase. d-δ-Tocotrienol (0-25 μmol/L) had no impact on the viability of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts following 48-h incubation, suggesting lack of cytotoxicity at these doses. Tocotrienols and other mevalonate suppressors have potential in maintaining bone health.

The Role of Tocotrienol in Preventing Male Osteoporosis-A Review of Current Evidence

Male osteoporosis is a significant but undetermined healthcare problem. Men suffer from a higher mortality rate post-fracture than women and they are marginalized in osteoporosis treatment. The current prophylactic agents for osteoporosis are limited. Functional food components such as tocotrienol may be an alternative option for osteoporosis prevention in men. This paper aims to review the current evidence regarding the skeletal effects of tocotrienol in animal models of male osteoporosis and its potential antiosteoporotic mechanism. The efficacy of tocotrienol of various sources (single isoform, palm and annatto vitamin E mixture) had been tested in animal models of bone loss induced by testosterone deficiency (orchidectomy and buserelin), metabolic syndrome, nicotine, alcoholism, and glucocorticoid. The treated animals showed improvements ranging from bone microstructural indices, histomorphometric indices, calcium content, and mechanical strength. The bone-sparing effects of tocotrienol may be exerted through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and mevalonate-suppressive pathways. However, information pertaining to its mechanism of actions is superficial and warrants further studies. As a conclusion, tocotrienol could serve as a functional food component to prevent male osteoporosis, but its application requires validation from a clinical trial in men.

Utilization of Vitamin E Analogs to Protect Normal Tissues While Enhancing Antitumor Effects

Despite advances in radiation delivery techniques, side effects of radiation therapy due to radiation exposure of normal tissues are common and can limit the deliverable dose to tumors. Significant interests lie in pharmacologic modifiers that may protect against normal tissue toxicity from cancer treatment while simultaneously enhancing the tumor response to therapy. While no such treatments are available in the clinic, this is an area of active preclinical and clinical research. This review summarizes research studies that provide evidence to indicate that tocotrienols, natural forms of vitamin E, are potent radiation protectors and may also have antitumor effects. Hence, several current clinical trials test tocotrienols as concomitant treatment in cancer therapies.

Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Tocotrienols in Cancer: Recent Trends and Advancements

Tocotrienols, found in several natural sources such as rice bran, annatto seeds, and palm oil have been reported to exert various beneficial health promoting properties especially against chronic diseases, including cancer. The incidence of cancer is rapidly increasing around the world not only because of continual aging and growth in global population, but also due to the adaptation of Western lifestyle behaviours, including intake of high fat diets and low physical activity. Tocotrienols can suppress the growth of different malignancies, including those of breast, lung, ovary, prostate, liver, brain, colon, myeloma, and pancreas. These findings, together with the reported safety profile of tocotrienols in healthy human volunteers, encourage further studies on the potential application of these compounds in cancer prevention and treatment. In the current article, detailed information about the potential molecular mechanisms of actions of tocotrienols in different cancer models has been presented and the possible effects of these vitamin E analogues on various important cancer hallmarks, i.e., cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis, and inflammation have been briefly analyzed.

The Potential of Isoprenoids in Adjuvant Cancer Therapy to Reduce Adverse Effects of Statins

The mevalonate pathway provides sterols for membrane structure and nonsterol intermediates for the post-translational modification and membrane anchorage of growth-related proteins, including the Ras, Rac, and Rho GTPase family. Mevalonate-derived products are also essential for the Hedgehog pathway, steroid hormone signaling, and the nuclear localization of Yes-associated protein and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif, all of which playing roles in tumorigenesis and cancer stem cell function. The phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase-AKT-mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 pathway, p53 with gain-of-function mutation, and oncoprotein MYC upregulate the mevalonate pathway, whereas adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and tumor suppressor protein RB are the downregulators. The rate-limiting enzyme, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), is under a multivalent regulation. Sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 mediates the sterol-controlled transcriptional downregulation of HMGCR. UbiA prenyltransferase domain-containing protein-1 regulates the ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation of HMGCR, which is accelerated by 24, 25-dihydrolanosterol and the diterpene geranylgeraniol. Statins, competitive inhibitors of HMGCR, deplete cells of mevalonate-derived intermediates and consequently inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. Clinical application of statins is marred by dose-limiting toxicities and mixed outcomes on cancer risk, survival and mortality, partially resulting from the statin-mediated compensatory upregulation of HMGCR and indiscriminate inhibition of HMGCR in normal and tumor cells. Tumor HMGCR is resistant to the sterol-mediated transcriptional control; consequently, HMGCR is upregulated in cancers derived from adrenal gland, blood and lymph, brain, breast, colon, connective tissue, embryo, esophagus, liver, lung, ovary, pancreas, prostate, skin, and stomach. Nevertheless, tumor HMGCR remains sensitive to isoprenoid-mediated degradation. Isoprenoids including monoterpenes (carvacrol, L-carvone, geraniol, perillyl alcohol), sesquiterpenes (cacalol, farnesol, β-ionone), diterpene (geranylgeranyl acetone), “mixed” isoprenoids (tocotrienols), and their derivatives suppress the growth of tumor cells with little impact on non-malignant cells. In cancer cells derived from breast, colon, liver, mesothelium, prostate, pancreas, and skin, statins and isoprenoids, including tocotrienols, geraniol, limonene, β-ionone and perillyl alcohol, synergistically suppress cell proliferation and associated signaling pathways. A blend of dietary lovastatin and δ-tocotrienol, each at no-effect doses, suppress the growth of implanted murine B16 melanomas in C57BL6 mice. Isoprenoids have potential as adjuvant agents to reduce the toxicities of statins in cancer prevention or therapy.

Anticancer properties of tocotrienols: A review of cellular mechanisms and molecular targets

Vitamin E is composed of two groups of compounds: α-, β-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols (TPs), and the corresponding unsaturated tocotrienols (TTs). TTs are found in natural sources such as red palm oil, annatto seeds, and rice bran. In the last decades, TTs (specifically, γ-TT and δ-TT) have gained interest due to their health benefits in chronic diseases, based on their antioxidant, neuroprotective, cholesterol-lowering, anti-inflammatory activities. Several in vitro and in vivo studies pointed out that TTs also exert a significant antitumor activity in a wide range of cancer cells. Specifically, TTs were shown to exert antiproliferative/proapoptotic effects and to reduce the metastatic or angiogenic properties of different cancer cells; moreover, these compounds were reported to specifically target the subpopulation of cancer stem cells, known to be deeply involved in the development of resistance to standard therapies. Interestingly, recent studies pointed out that TTs exert a synergistic antitumor effect on cancer cells when given in combination with either standard antitumor agents (i.e., chemotherapeutics, statins, "targeted" therapies) or natural compounds with anticancer activity (i.e., sesamin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, ferulic acid). Based on these observations, different TT synthetic derivatives and formulations were recently developed and demonstrated to improve TT water solubility and to reduce TT metabolism in cancer cells, thus increasing their biological activity. These promising results, together with the safety of TT administration in healthy subjects, suggest that these compounds might represent a new chemopreventive or anticancer treatment (i.e., in combination with standard therapies) strategy. Clinical trials aimed at confirming this antitumor activity of TTs are needed.

A novel function of geranylgeraniol in regulating testosterone production

Isoprenoids play widely differing roles in various physiological processes in animals and plants. Geranylgeraniol (GGOH) is an isoprenoid found in plants, and is an important metabolic derivative in the isoprenoid/cholesterol synthesis pathway. Earlier studies focused on GGOH's ability to improve the side effects of bisphosphonate therapy by regulating the mevalonate pathway. More recently, the mevalonate pathway-independent effects of GGOH have been described, including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic, and neuroprotective activities. It is noteworthy that GGOH regulates the steroidogenesis pathway in testis-derived I-10 tumor cells. Testosterone is a hormone produced via steroidogenesis in testicles and plays a role in fetal development and the male reproductive system. GGOH enhanced testosterone and progesterone (its precursor) levels in I-10 cells by activating adenylate cyclase via cAMP/PKA signaling, without altering phosphodiesterase activity. These findings highlight the potential benefits of GGOH as a therapeutic agent for low testosterone levels, such as late-onset hypogonadism in men.

Study on the Correlation between Gene Expression and Enzyme Activity of Seven Key Enzymes and Ginsenoside Content in Ginseng in Over Time in Ji'an, China

Panax ginseng is a traditional medicine. Fresh ginseng is one of the most important industries related to ginseng development, and fresh ginseng of varying ages has different medicinal properties. Previous research has not systematically reported the correlation between changes in key enzyme activity with changes in ginsenoside content in fresh ginseng over time. In this study, for the first time, we use ginseng samples of varying ages in Ji'an and systematically reported the changes in the activity of seven key enzymes (HMGR, FPS, SS, SE, DS, CYP450, and GT). We investigated the content of ginsenoside and gene expression of these key enzymes. Ginsenoside content was measured using HPLC. HPLC, GC-MS, and LC-MS were combined to measure the enzyme activity of the key enzymes. Quantitative PCR was used in the investigation of gene expression. By analyzing the correlation between the enzyme activity and the transcription level of the key enzymes with ginsenoside content, we found that DS and GT enzyme activities are significantly correlated with the ginsenoside content in different ages of ginseng. Our findings might provide a new strategy to discriminate between ginseng of different years. Meanwhile, this research provides important information for the in-depth study of ginsenoside biosynthesis.