title: Anti-inflammatory potential of saponins derived from cultured wild ginseng roots in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.
abstract: Ginseng, namely the root of Panax ginseng Meyer, is a well-known traditional medicine that has been used in Asian countries for thousands of years. Ginseng saponins have been shown to exert a variety of prominent pharmacological effects in a number of diseases. The aim of the present study was to identify the anti-inflammatory effects of total saponins extracted from cultured wild ginseng roots (TSWG) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. An elevated production of nitric oxide (NO) was detected in the RAW 264.7 cells in response to stimulation with LPS, as shown by NO detection assay using Griess reagent. However, pre-treatment with TSWG inhibited the production of NO through the suppression of inducible NO synthase gene expression. Furthermore, the LPS-induced gene expression and production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were significantly reduced by treatment with TSWG, as shown by ELISA, and western blot analysis and RT-PCR, respectively. In the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was translocated from the cytosol to the nucleus, while pre-treatment with TSWG induced the sequestration of NF-κB in the cytosol through the inhibition of the inhibitor of κB degradation, as shown by immunofluorescence staining. TSWG also contributed to the downregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and Akt in the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, in the TSWG-treated RAW 264.7 cells, we observed the activation of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 and an increase in heme oxygenase-1 expression; these effects were associated with the inhibition of the generation of reactive oxygen species. The results from the present study indicate that TSWG exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, suggesting that TSWG may be an effective therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases and prevent cellular damage induced by oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Dongeui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan 614-052, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gyeong-Jin
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan 608-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Il-Whan
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Marine Life Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gi-Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Anti-Aging Research Center and Blue-Bio Industry RIC, Dongeui University, Busan 614-714, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Woo
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Dongeui University, Busan 614-714, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Cheol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Dongeui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan 614-052, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: School of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Ansung 456-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Kwon
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 602-072, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Jae
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu 705-718, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Chae
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kee Yoeup
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Paek
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wun-Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Dongeui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan 614-052, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yung Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012503:Saponins