title: Korean red ginseng and its primary ginsenosides inhibit ethanol-induced oxidative injury by suppression of the MAPK pathway in TIB-73 cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Panax ginseng (P. ginseng) is one of the most widely used medicinal plants due to its wide spectrum of medicinal effects. Among the currently available Panax ginseng products, Korea red ginseng (KRG) has been shown to exhibit a variety of antioxidative and hepatoprotective action.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to investigate the effects of KRG and its primary ginsenosides (Rg3 and Rh2) on EtOH-induced injury to mouse hepatocytes (TIB-73).
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the effects of KRG and its primary ginsenoside on EtOH-induced injury to TIB-73 cells and evaluated MAPKs signals as a possible mechanism of action. Hepatocytic injury was evaluated by biochemical assays as cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ROS and mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) level in TIB-73 cells. The levels of MAPK activation were analyzed by Western blots.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that exposure of EtOH to TIB-73 cells led to cell death and membrane damage, accompanied by a decrease in cell viability, MMP, and Mg(2+) concentrations, but an increase in LDH, AST, ROS and MAPK activation. KRG and its primary ginsenosides reduced EtOH-induced generation of ROS and the activation of ERK and JNK, and increased Mg(2+) concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that KRG and its primary ginsenosides inhibit EtOH-induced oxidative injury by suppression of the MAPK pathway in TIB-73 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Shang-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: A-Reum
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mun
authors.forename: Hyeon-Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Go
authors.forename: Gi-Beum
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung-Zoo
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seon-Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Sei-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin-Shang
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyung-Sub
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D036145:Ginsenosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000431:Ethanol; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D008274:Magnesium