title: Upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 by ginsenoside Ro attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in macrophage cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The beneficial effects of ginsenoside species have been well demonstrated in a number of studies. However, the function of ginsenoside Ro (GRo), an oleanane-type saponin, has not been sufficiently investigated. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of GRo in vitro using the Raw 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and to clarify the possible mechanism of GRo involving heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which itself plays a critical role in self-defense in the presence of inflammatory stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Raw 264.7 cells were pretreated with GRo (up to 200μM) for 1 h before treatment with 1 μg/mL LPS, and both cell viability and inflammatory markers involving HO-1 were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GRo significantly increased cell viability in a dose dependent manner following treatment with LPS, and decreased levels of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide. GRo decreased inflammatory cytokines such as nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 induced by LPS. Moreover, GRo increased the expression of HO-1 in a dose dependent manner. Cotreatment of GRo with tin protoporphyrin IX, a selective inhibitor of HO-1, not only inhibited upregulation of HO-1 induced by GRo, but also reversed the anti-inflammatory effect of GRo in LPS treated Raw 264.7 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GRo induces anti-inflammatory effects following treatment with LPS via upregulation of HO-1.
authors: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jetonju, Korea.
authors: Sokho
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jetonju, Korea.
authors: Myung-Hoon
authors: MH
authors: Oh
authors: Bio-safety Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea.
authors: Bum-Seok
authors: BS
authors: Kim
authors: Bio-safety Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea.
authors: Won-Il
authors: WI
authors: Kim
authors: Bio-safety Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea.
authors: Ho-Seong
authors: HS
authors: Cho
authors: Bio-safety Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea.
authors: Byoung-Yong
authors: BY
authors: Park
authors: Bio-safety Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea.
authors: Chul
authors: C
authors: Park
authors: Bio-safety Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea.
authors: Gee-Wook
authors: GW
authors: Shin
authors: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jetonju, Korea; Bio-safety Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea.
authors: Jungkee
authors: J
authors: Kwon
keywords: ginsenoside Ro; heme oxygenase-1; inflammation; lipopolysaccharide; macrophage