title: Enhancement of neutral endopeptidase activity in SK-N-SH cells by ginsenoside Rb1.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 on Neprilysin (NEP) activity in SK-N-SH cells, and probe the underlying mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 on NEP activity were analyzed by NEP peptidase assay. Western blot was used to determine NEP gene expression at translational level, and RT-PCR was also performed to detect NEP gene expression at transcriptional level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NEP peptidase assay indicated that ginsenoside Rb1 can improve the activity of NEP, and RT-PCR and western blot results showed that the enhancement of NEP activity by ginsenoside Rb1 was due to enhancing NEP gene expression, while Rg1 did not have this effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our studies showed that ginsenoside Rb1 can enhance NEP activity by upregulating NEP gene expression. Our findings might offer a pharmacological explanation for the use of ginseng in traditional medicine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Ling-Ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Jian-Rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D015260:Neprilysin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012313:RNA; C442759:ginsenoside Rb1; D015260:Neprilysin; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1