This study was performed to investigate the inhibition mechanism of cancer cell proof iferation caused by the petroleum-ether extract of ginseng against human rectum (HRT-18), colon (HT-29), llepatoma (Hep G2) and prostate (LNCaP) cancer cells and monkey kidney cells (Vero 76). Cells were treated with the petroleum-ether extract of ginseng (50 to 200 $mu extrm{g}$/ml) in G1 or S phase of the cell cycle, and proliferation and protein kinase C activity were measured. The petroleum-eth or extract of ginseng inhibited proliferation of HRT-18, HT-29, Hep G2 and LNCaP when treated in Gl phase, but not in S phase. This result shows that the ginseng extract arrests the cell cycle in G1 phase, resulting in the inhibition of cell proliferation. At the same concentrations, treatment of the ginseng extract in G1 phase decreased protein kinase C activity, while the treatment in S phase had no effect. This reault suggests that protein kinase C might be involved in the inhibition of the cell cycle and proliferation of cancer cells caused by the petroleum-ether extract of ginseng.