Fermented ginseng protects streptozotocin-induced damage in rat pancreas by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappaB.
In this study, we investigated the protective effects of fermented ginseng (FG) on hyperglycemia induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in Sprague Dawley rats. FG was administered orally at dose of 250 (FGL) or 500 mg/kg (FGH) for 20 days starting one week before STZ injection. FG restored the plasma insulin levels by 266% and 334% in FGL and FGH, respectively, and resulting in reduction of plasma glucose concentration. Histological observation indicated that STZ-induced destruction of pancreatic islets was protected by FG. Consistent with this observation, FG reduced protein and mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), as determined by Western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively. The molecular mechanism of FG's inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 gene expressions appeared to involve the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation via prevention of inhibitor kappaB (IkappaB) phosphorylation and degradation. The cytoprotective effects of FG were also mediated through suppression of extracelluar signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways. Collectively, these results suggest that FG might be used to preserve functional beta-cell mass.
Yuan
Hai Dan
HD
Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Chung
Sung Hyun
SH
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C489691:Ptgs2 protein, rat; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases