title: Transgenic Panax ginseng inhibits the production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 as well as COX-2 expression in human mast cells.
abstract: 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.
authors: 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.
authors: Su-Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
authors: Hyun-Ja
authors: HJ
authors: Jeong
authors: Byoung-Jae
authors: BJ
authors: Yi
authors: Tae-Hee
authors: TH
authors: Kang
authors: Nyeon-Hyung
authors: NH
authors: An
authors: Eun-Hyub
authors: EH
authors: Lee
authors: Deok-Chun
authors: DC
authors: Yang
authors: Hyung-Min
authors: HM
authors: Kim
authors: Seung-Heon
authors: SH
authors: Hong
authors: Jae-Young
authors: JY
authors: Um
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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