Effects of ginsenosides, active ingredients of Panax ginseng, on development, growth, and life span of Caenorhabditis elegans.
The backbone structure of ginsenosides, active ingredients of Panax ginseng, is similar with that of sterol, especially cholesterol. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is one of free living nematodes and is well-established animal model for biochemical and genetic studies. C. elegans cannot synthesize de novo cholesterol, although cholesterol is essential requirement for its growth and development. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ginseng total saponins (GTS) on the average brood size, growth, development, worm size, and life span of C. elegans in cholesterol-deprived and -fed medium. Cholesterol deprivation caused damages on normal growth, reproduction, and life span of worms throughout F1 to F3 generations. GTS supplement to cholesterol-deprived medium restored the growth, reproduction, and life span of worms as much as cholesterol alone-fed medium. GTS co-supplement to cholesterol-fed medium not only promoted worm reproduction but also induced bigger worms and faster growth than cholesterol-fed medium. In study to identify which ginsenosides are responsible for life span restoring effects of GTS, we found that ginsenoside Rc supplement not only restored life span of worms grown in cholesterol-deprived medium but also prolonged life span of worms grown in cholesterol-fed medium. Worms grown in medium supplemented with ginsenoside Rb(1) or Rc to cholesterol-deprived medium exhibited strong filipin staining, in which filipin forms tight and specific complexes with 3beta-hydroxy sterols. These results show a possibility that ginsenosides could be utilized by C. elegans as a sterol substitute and further indicate that ginsenoside Rc is the component of Panax ginseng that prolongs the life span of C. elegans.
Lee
Joon-Hee
JH
Department of Physical Therapy, Daebul University, Korea.
Choi
Sun-Hye
SH
Kwon
Oh-Seung
OS
Shin
Tae-Joon
TJ
Lee
Jun-Ho
JH
Lee
Byung-Hwan
BH
Yoon
In-Soo
IS
Pyo
Mi Kyung
MK
Rhim
Hyewhon
H
Lim
Yoong-Ho
YH
Shim
Yhong-Hee
YH
Ahn
Ji-Yun
JY
Kim
Hyoung-Choon
HC
Chitwood
David Joseph
DJ
Lee
Sang-Mok
SM
Nah
Seung-Yeol
SY
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*
D036145:Ginsenosides