title: Protective effect of wild ginseng cambial meristematic cells on d-galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Panax ginseng has a wide range of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory functions. Wild ginseng cambial meristematic cells (CMCs) were obtained from P. ginseng cambium. This study examined the protective mechanism of wild ginseng CMCs against d-galactosamine (GalN)-induced liver injury. GalN, a well-known hepatotoxicant, causes severe hepatocellular inflammatory damage and clinical features similar to those of human viral hepatitis in experimental animals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats using GalN (700 mg/kg, i.p.). Wild ginseng CMCs was administered orally once a day for 2 wks, and then 2 h prior to and 6 h after GalN injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wild ginseng CMCs attenuated the increase in serum aminotransferase activity that occurs 24 h after GalN injection. Wild ginseng CMCs also attenuated the GalN-induced increase in serum tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 level, and hepatic cyclooxygenase-2 protein and mRNA expression. Wild ginseng CMCs augmented the increase in serum interleukin -10 and hepatic heme oxygenase-1 protein and mRNA expression that was induced by GalN, inhibited the increase in the nuclear level of nuclear factor-kappa B, and enhanced the increase in NF-E2-related factor 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that wild ginseng CMCs protects liver against GalN-induced inflammation by suppressing proinflammatory mediators and enhancing production of anti-inflammatory mediators.
authors: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors: Seok-Joo
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
authors: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors: Hyo-Sun
authors: HS
authors: Choi
authors: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors: Hong-Ik
authors: HI
authors: Cho
authors: Plant Stem Cell Institute, Unhwa Corp., Jeonju, Korea.
authors: Young-Woo
authors: YW
authors: Jin
authors: Plant Stem Cell Institute, Unhwa Corp., Jeonju, Korea.
authors: Eun-Kyong
authors: EK
authors: Lee
authors: Plant Stem Cell Institute, Unhwa Corp., Jeonju, Korea.
authors: Jeung Youb
authors: JY
authors: Ahn
authors: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors: Sun-Mee
authors: SM
authors: Lee
keywords: Panax ginseng; d-galactosamine; heme oxygenase-1; hepatitis; wild ginseng cambial meristematic cells