Malignant tumor is a common clinical disease, which seriously threatens people's physical and mental health. Prevention of malignant tumors has become one of the priorities of health strategies in China and even the world. In order to conquer tumors, people have made unremitting efforts and made gratifying progress in the treatment of tumors. In addition to the three traditional therapies of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, there are also various therapies such as tumor photodynamic therapy, heating therapy and biological therapy, which have significantly changed the face of the traditional single treatment of tumors, but there is still a long way to go to overcome tumors.

        Although the treatment of tumor has been diversified, chemotherapy still plays an important role in tumor treatment. However, most chemotherapy drugs not only kill tumor cells, but also have serious toxic and side effects on normal tissues of the body, so their application is greatly limited. Therefore, more and more attention has been paid to the search for new high-efficiency and low toxicity antitumor drugs or anticancer synergistic and attenuated agents. With the continuous development of molecular oncology and molecular pharmacology, we have more and more understanding of the occurrence and development of tumors, and also provide new targets for the development of anti-tumor drugs. In the research process of new anti-tumor drugs, drugs from plants have attracted much attention. There are many kinds of plants. It has rich sources and broad development prospects. In China, it is of great significance to explore and utilize Chinese herbal medicines with anticancer activity.

        Ginseng, as a precious traditional Chinese medicine, has always been a hot spot in both the treatment of diseases and health care. As a ginsenoside compound, 20 (s) -protopanaxadiol has also been widely studied. In terms of anti-tumor, 20 (s) -protopanaxadiol can kill tumor cells by enhancing the body's immunity and direct cytotoxicity. In addition, 20 (s) -protopanaxadiol can also resist epilepsy, depression, enhance learning ability and so on, which has attracted more and more attention. All aspects suggest that 20 (s) -protopanaxadiol is a compound of great development value. Protopanaxadiol is the main aglycone of saponins in medicinal plants such as ginseng, Panax notoginseng, American ginseng and gynostemma pentaphyllum, which has a good inhibitory effect on tumor cell proliferation. Compared with the corresponding saponins, protopanaxadiol has small molecular weight and polarity, which is easy to absorb human blood and play a pharmacological role. Therefore,protopanaxadiolIt is a promising drug for cancer prevention and treatment.