title: Ginseng Berry Extract Prevents Atherogenesis via Anti-Inflammatory Action by Upregulating Phase II Gene Expression.
abstract: Ginseng berry possesses higher ginsenoside content than its root, which has been traditionally used in herbal medicine for many human diseases, including atherosclerosis. We here examined the antiatherogenic effects of the Korean ginseng berry extract (KGBE) and investigated its underlying mechanism of action in vitro and in vivo. Administration of KGBE decreased atherosclerotic lesions, which was inversely correlated with the expression levels of phase II genes to include heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutamine-cysteine ligase (GCL). Furthermore, KGBE administration suppressed NF-κB-mediated expression of atherogenic inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, COX-2, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1), without altering serum cholesterol levels, in ApoE(-/-) mice fed a high fat-diet. Treatment with KGBE increased phase II gene expression and suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced reactive oxygen species production, NF-κB activation, and inflammatory gene expression in primary macrophages. Importantly, these cellular events were blocked by selective inhibitors of HO-1 and GCL. In addition, these inhibitors reversed the suppressive effect of KGBE on TNF-α-mediated induction of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, resulting in decreased interaction between endothelial cells and monocytes. These results suggest that KGBE ameliorates atherosclerosis by inhibiting NF-κB-mediated expression of atherogenic genes via upregulation of phase II enzymes and thus has therapeutic or preventive potential for atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Homeostasis Laboratory and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Gangwon-do, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chun-Ki
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong Hui
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Kyu-Sun
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong-Keon
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chan-Woong
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Wan Gi
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwon-Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Oh
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Goo Taeg
authors.forename: Young-Guen
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Young-Myeong
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim