Ginsenoside Rh1 possesses antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activities.
BACKGROUND
Ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Araliaceae) has been reported to possess various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antitumor actions. In this study, we investigated the antiallergic activity of ginsenosides isolated from ginseng.


METHODS
We isolated ginsenosides by silica gel column chromatography and examined their in vitro and in vivo antiallergic effect on rat peritoneal mast cells and on IgE-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in mice. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of ginsenoside Rh1 (Rh1) in RAW264.7 cells was investigated.


RESULTS
Rh1 potently inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells and the IgE-mediated PCA reaction in mice. The inhibitory activity of Rh1 (87% inhibition at 25 mg/kg) on the PCA reaction was found to be more potent than that of disodium cromoglycate (31% inhibition at 25 mg/kg); Rh1 was also found to have a membrane-stabilizing action as revealed by differential scanning calorimetry. It also inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression in RAW 264.7 cells, and the activation of the transcription factor, NF-kappaB, in nuclear fractions.


CONCLUSIONS
The antiallergic action of Rh1 may originate from its cell membrane-stabilizing and anti-inflammatory activities, and can improve the inflammation caused by allergies.
Park
Eun-Kyung
EK
College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
Choo
Min-Kyung
MK
Han
Myung Joo
MJ
Kim
Dong-Hyun
DH
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine / Q000276:immunology
D036145:Ginsenosides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine; C049864:ginsenoside Re; C425564:ginsenoside Rh1; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D015232:Dinoprostone