title: Anti-inflammatory mechanism of ginseng saponins in activated microglia.
abstract: In the present study, we investigated the effect of ginseng extract (KRG) and total saponins (GTS) on microglial activation. KRG and GTS inhibited LPS-induced expression of iNOS, MMP-9 and proinflammatory cytokines in microglial cells. Suppression of microglial activation by ginseng was also observed in the mouse brain inflamed by LPS. Furthermore, KRG and GTS significantly suppressed NF-kappaB and MAP kinase activities, which are upstream signaling molecules in inflammation. Among the individual ginsenosides tested, Rh2, Rh3 and compound K significantly inhibited LPS-induced iNOS and cytokine expressions. Therefore, the inhibition of microglial activation by ginseng saponins may a good potential therapeutic modality for neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun-Mi
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kangsik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Ji-Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: Jihee Lee
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hee-Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005911:Gliosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D036145:Ginsenosides; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D012503:Saponins; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9