title: Beneficial effects of fermented black ginseng and its ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in LLC-PK1 cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nephrotoxicity is a common side effect of medications. Panax ginseng is one of the best-known herbal medicines, and its individual constituents enhance renal function. Identification of its efficacy and mechanisms of action against drug-induced nephrotoxicity, as well as the specific constituents mediating this effect, have recently emerged as an interesting research area focusing on the kidney protective efficacy of P. ginseng.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study investigated the kidney protective effect of fermented black ginseng (FBG) and its active component ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 against cisplatin (chemotherapy drug)-induced damage in pig kidney (LLC-PK1) cells. It focused on assessing the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases as important mechanistic elements in kidney protection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reduced cell viability induced by cisplatin was significantly recovered with FBG extract and ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 dose-dependently. The cisplatin-induced elevated protein levels of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p53, and cleaved caspase-3 were decreased after cotreatment with FBG extract or ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3. The elevated percentage of apoptotic LLC-PK1 cells induced by cisplatin treatment was significantly abrogated by cotreatment with FBG and the ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FBG and its major ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3, ameliorated cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in LLC-PK1 cells by blocking the JNK-p53-caspase-3 signaling cascade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung, Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung-Sik
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Korea; Natural Products Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung, Korea.
authors.forename: Im-Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Dahae
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: GINSENG BY PHARM Co., Ltd., Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung, Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Nam
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung, Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung-Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamabe
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Gwi Seo
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Hanyang University, Ansan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Hyun
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Korea.
authors.forename: Suk-Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuk-Jai
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jang
keywords: Panax ginseng; cisplatin; ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3; mitogen-activated protein kinases; nephrotoxicity