OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effects of ginsenoside Rh2 and Rg3 on the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells through regulating programmed death ligand-1（PD-L1）in the immune microenvironment. METHODS: Gastric cancer cells MGC-803 were divided into three groups

including control group

Rh2+Rg3 group（treated with 40 μg/mL ginsenoside Rh2 and Rg3） and Rh2+Rg3+PD-L1 group（transfected PD-L1 carrier vector was treated with 40 μg/mL ginsenoside Rh2 and Rg3 at a density of 3×10~3）. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of PD-L1; Annexin-V was used to detect the apoptosis of MGC-803; EdU method was used to detect the proliferation of gastric cancer cells MGC-803; Transwell was used to detect the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells MGC-803. RESULTS: The expression levels of PD-L1 mRNA and protein of the Rh2+Rg3 group were significantly lower than those of the control group

and the expression levels of PD-L1 mRNA and protein of the Rh2+Rg3+PD-L1 group were significantly higher than those of the Rh2+Rg3 group

with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）. The cell apoptosis rate of the Rh2+Rg3 group was significantly higher than that of the control group

and the cell apoptosis rate of the Rh2+Rg3+PD-L1 group was significantly lower than that of the Rh2+Rg3 group

with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）. The number of cell clones of the Rh2+Rg3 group was significantly less than that of the control group

and the number of cell clones of the Rh2+Rg3+PD-L1 group was significantly more than that of the Rh2+Rg3 group

with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）. The cell reproductive capacity of the Rh2+Rg3 group was significantly lower than that of the control group

and the cell reproductive capacity of the Rh2+Rg3+PD-L1 group was significantly higher than that of the Rh2+Rg3 group

with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）. The number of migrating and invading cells of the Rh2+Rg3 group was significantly less than that of the control group

and the number of migrating and invading cells of the Rh2+Rg3+PD-L1 group was significantly more than that of the Rh2+Rg3 group

with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）. CONCLUSIONS: Ginsenosides Rh2 and Rg3 can inhibit the proliferation

migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells by regulating the expression of PD-L1.