Ginsenoside-Rg1 from Panax notoginseng prevents hepatic fibrosis induced by thioacetamide in rats.
Panax notoginseng saponins have recently been reported to suppress liver fibrosis. Since ginsenoside-Rg1 is the most abundant component of P.notoginseng saponins, we investigated the effect of ginsenoside-Rg1 on experimental liver fibrosis in rats. Histological analysis revealed that ginsenoside-Rg1 significantly improved the extent of liver fibrosis in rats induced by thioacetamide. Ginsenoside-Rg1 markedly suppressed the serum levels of fibrotic markers and hepatic hydroxyproline content in rats treated with thioacetamide. Ginsenoside-Rg1 also reduced the serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase. Finally, ginsenoside-Rg1 attenuated the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in livers of rats treated by thioacetamide. In cultured hepatic stellate cells, ginsenoside-Rg1 markedly inhibited cell proliferation, activation and formation of reactive oxygen species stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB). Additionally, ginsenoside-Rg1 down-regulated the expression of PDGF receptor-beta by reducing the nuclear factor-kappaB activity, which was required for the gene expression. These results suggest that ginsenoside-Rg1, which exhibits its antioxidant and antifibrotic properties, may be of potential therapeutic value in protecting the liver fibrosis.
Geng
JiaWei
J
Department of Digestive Diseases, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, China.
Peng
Wei
W
Huang
YouGuang
Y
Fan
Hong
H
Li
ShuDe
S
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053723:Panax notoginseng; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013853:Thioacetamide / Q000633:toxicity*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D036145:Ginsenosides; D013853:Thioacetamide; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1