title: Red ginseng abrogates oxidative stress via mitochondria protection mediated by LKB1-AMPK pathway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) has been used as a botanical medicine throughout the history of Asian traditional Oriental medicine. Formulated red ginseng (one form of Korean ginseng) has been shown to have antioxidant and chemopreventive effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated the cytoprotective effects and mechanism of action of Korean red ginseng extract (RGE) against severe ROS production and mitochondrial impairment in a cytotoxic cell model induced by AA + iron.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RGE protected HepG2 cells from AA + iron-induced cytotoxicity by preventing the induction of mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. Moreover, AA + iron-induced production of ROS and reduction of cellular GSH content (an important cellular defense mechanism) were remarkably attenuated by treatment with RGE. At the molecular level, treatment with RGE activated LKB1-dependent AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which in turn led to increased cell survival. The AMPK pathway was confirmed to play an essential role as the effects of RGE on mitochondrial membrane potential were reversed upon treatment with compound C, an AMPK inhibitor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that RGE has the ability to protect cells from AA + iron-induced ROS production and mitochondrial impairment through AMPK activation.
authors.affiliation: Medical research center for Globalization of Herbal Formulation, College of Oriental Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-828, Korea.
authors.forename: Guang-Zhi
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Eun Jeong
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Seung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Il Je
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sun-Dong
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D020011:Protective Agents; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases