Transgenic Panax ginseng inhibits the production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 as well as COX-2 expression in human mast cells.
The most well-known medicinal plant, Panax ginseng (P. ginseng), contains various phytosterols and bioactive triterpene saponins (ginsenosides). Squalene synthase is a key regulatory enzyme for triterpene biosynthesis and overexpression of the squalene synthase confers the hyper-production of triterpene saponins to form transgenic ginseng. In this study, we have investigated whether and how transgenic P. ginseng modulates an inflammatory reaction in a stimulated human mast cell line, HMC-1. It was found that transgenic P. ginseng inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-stimulated HMC-1. Additionally, we have shown that transgenic P. ginseng suppressed the intracellular calcium level induced by PMACI. These results provide new insights into the pharmacological actions of transgenic P. ginseng as a potential molecule for use in therapy in mast cell-mediated inflammatory diseases.
Kim
Su-Jin
SJ
Department of Pharmacology, College of Oriental Medicine, Institute of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea.
Jeong
Hyun-Ja
HJ
Yi
Byoung-Jae
BJ
Kang
Tae-Hee
TH
An
Nyeon-Hyung
NH
Lee
Eun-Hyub
EH
Yang
Deok-Chun
DC
Kim
Hyung-Min
HM
Hong
Seung-Heon
SH
Um
Jae-Young
JY
D002118:Calcium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
D002118:Calcium; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors