title: Saponin and non-saponin fractions of red ginseng ameliorate cisplatin-induced pica in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nausea and vomiting are considered as the foremost unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy experienced by 20-90% of cancer patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, the effects of Korean Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Araliaceae) (RG), ginseng saponin (GS) and non-saponin (GNS) on cisplatin (CP)-induced pica and gastric damage in rats were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were treated with RG (25, 50, 100 mg/kg b.wt.), GS (5 and 10 mg/kg 100 mg/kg b.wt.) and GNS (50 and 100 mg/kg b.wt.) before or after a single intraperitoneal injection of CP (6 mg/kg b.wt.). Kaolin together with normal food intake, normal food alone, body weight, histological examination of stomach and small intestine were used as indices of CP-induced pica in rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-treatment with RG (50 and 100 mg/kg b.wt.) attenuated CP-induced kaolin intake at 24 h. CP-induced kaolin intake decreased upon post-treatment of rats with RG (50 and 100 mg/kg b.wt.) at 48 h. The incidence of body weight reduction at 48 and 72 h diminished in rats post-treated with RG (50 mg/kg b.wt.). Pre-treatment with GS (5 and 10 mg/kg b.wt.) and GNS (50 and 100 mg/kg b.wt.) attenuated CP-induced kaolin intake while normal food intake was not improved in 24 and 48 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The gastro-protective effects of RG, GS and GNS were further confirmed by histopathological (damage in glandular portion and villi with dilated appearance) findings. The study indicates that both the red GS and GNS improve feeding behavior against CP-induced pica in rats.
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Rekha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sathyanath
authors.forename: Balaji Raghavendran
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Hanumantha Rao
authors.forename: Hyeong-Geug
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung-Hyo
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Chang-Gue
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Son
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D001835:Body Weight; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000633:toxicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007616:Kaolin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010842:Pica / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012503:Saponins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins; D007616:Kaolin; D002945:Cisplatin