Ginsenoside Rk1 is a unique component created by processing the ginseng plant (mainly Sung Ginseng, SG) at high temperatures[1].Ginsenoside Rk1 has anti-inflammatory effect, suppresses the activation of Jak2/Stat3 signaling pathway and NF-κB[2].Ginsenoside Rk1 has anti-tumor effect, antiplatelet aggregation activities, anti-insulin resistance, nephroprotective effect, antimicrobial effect, cognitive function enhancement, lipid accumulation reduction and prevents osteoporosis[1].Ginsenoside Rk1 induces cell apoptosis by triggering intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and blocking PI3K/Akt pathway[3].

Ginsenoside Rk1 (0-40 μM; 6 hours) inhibits MCP-1 and TNF-α mRNA induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), expression of IL-1β is inhibited at 40 μM[2].Ginsenoside Rk1 (0-40 μM; 24 hours) inhibits phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 (Tyr705 and Ser727) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner[2].Ginsenoside Rk1 (0-160 μM; 48 hours) results in cell viability significant decrease 75.52 ± 2.51% (40 μM), 52.72 ± 2.54% (80 μM), 17.41 ± 2.94% (120 μM)and 12.63 ± 3.24% (160 μM) compared with control[3].Ginsenoside Rk1 (0-120 μM; 24 hours) increases G0/G1 phase proportion accompanied with S and G2/M phase proportion decrease in MDA-MB-231 cells[3].Ginsenoside Rk1 (0-120 μM; 24 hours) promotes the percentage of apoptotic cells in a dose-dependent manner, exhibits to reduction of cell number with nucleus fragmentation, condensation and apoptotic body formation[3].