Hepatoprotective effect of ginsenoside Rb1 and compound K on tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced liver injury.
OBJECTIVE
The main component of Panax ginseng, which have been reported by many researchers, are ginsenoside Rb1, Rb2 and Rc. Orally administered ginsenosides are metabolized to 20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol (compound K) by intestinal bacteria and absorbed to blood. To understand its hepatoprotective effect and its mechanism, the effects of ginsenoside Rb1 and its metabolite compound K on chemically injured HepG2 cells and mice were investigated.


METHODS
Ginsenoside Rb1 and compound K were isolated from ginseng. Hepatotoxicity of HepG2 cells and mice was induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP). Cytotoxicity for HepG2 cells and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) for mice as markers of hepatoprotective activity were measured.


RESULTS
Compound K protected HepG2 cell cytotoxicity induced by t-BHP. However, ginsenoside Rb1 did not inhibit cytotoxicity. Nevertheless, both ginsenoside Rb1 and compound K significantly inhibited the increment of ALT and AST induced by t-BHP in mice, when it was orally administered. However, intraperitoneally administered ginsenoside Rb1 did not inhibit the increment of plasma ALT and AST induced by t-BHP in mice. These compounds did not exhibit antioxidant activity. However, compound K showed the potent membrane stabilizing activity more than ginsenoside Rb1.


CONCLUSIONS
Compound K, which was produced from ginsenosides of Panax ginseng in intestine, could protect liver injury.
Lee
Hae-Ung
HU
College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-ku, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
Bae
Eun-Ah
EA
Han
Myung Joo
MJ
Kim
Nam-Jae
NJ
Kim
Dong-Hyun
DH
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019610:Cytoprotection; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010545:Peroxides / Q000633:toxicity*
D036145:Ginsenosides; D010545:Peroxides; C014985:tert-amylhydroperoxide; C442759:ginsenoside Rb1; C112772:ginsenoside compound K