Ginsenoside Rg3 Suppresses Palmitate-Induced Apoptosis in MIN6N8 Pancreatic beta-Cells.
Chronic exposure to elevated levels of free fatty acids (FFA) causes beta-cell dysfunction and may induce beta-cell apoptosis in type 2 diabetes. The execution of beta-cell apoptosis occurs through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), one of the active ingredients of ginseng saponins, has not been known about the effects on beta-cell apoptosis mediated with FFA. The aims of this study were to investigate the in vitro protective effects of Rg3 on MIN6N8 mouse insulinoma beta-cells against FFA-induced apoptosis, as well as the modulating effects on p44/42 MAPK activation. Our results showed that Rg3 inhibited the palmitate-induced apoptosis through modulating p44/42 MAPK activation. We conclude that Rg3 has the potential role in suppressing the progression of type 2 diabetes by inhibiting FFA-mediated loss of beta-cells.
Kim
Kyong
K
Functional Food Technology Research Group, Research Division for Emerging Innovative Techology, Korea Food Research Institute, 516 Baekhyun-dong, Bundang-gu, Songnam-si, Kyonggi-do 463-746, Republic of Korea.
Park
Min
M
Young Kim
Hye
H