title: Use of Gold Nanoparticle Fertilizer Enhances the Ginsenoside Contents and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Red Ginseng.
abstract: Red ginseng, a steamed and sun-dried ginseng, is a popular health-promoting food in Korea and other Asian countries. We introduced nanofertilizer technology using gold nanoparticles in an effort to develop red ginseng with an elevated level of ginsenosides, the main active compounds of ginseng. Shoots of 6-year-old ginseng plants were fertilized three times with colloidal gold nanoparticle sprays. Red ginseng extract was prepared from the main roots. The concentrations of gold and ginsenosides were measured following gold nanoparticle treatment. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects, mouse peritoneal macrophages of male BALB/c mouse were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide plus interferon-γ in the presence of extracts from red ginseng with or without gold nanoparticle treatment. The content of ginsenosides, such as Rg1, Re, Rf, and Rb1, increased in ginseng treated with gold nanofertilizer whereas the steaming process increased only the levels of Rd and Rg3. The levels of nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and interleukin-6, but not tumor necrosis factor-α, were more suppressed in macrophages treated with extract from gold nanoparticle-treated red ginseng. Our results show that the use of a colloidal gold nanoparticle fertilizer improved the synthesis of ginsenosides in ginseng and enhanced the anti-inflammatory effects of red ginseng. Further research is required to elucidate the causal factors for the gold-induced change in ginsenoside synthesis and to determine the in vivo effect of gold nanoparticle-treated ginseng.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: SMNANOBIO Co., Ltd., Daejeon 34028, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Gu
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Taek-Guen
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Cheng-Ri
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chi Heung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Yeong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Ok
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005308:Fertilizers; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005308:Fertilizers; D036145:Ginsenosides; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006046:Gold
keywords: Gold nanoparticles; ginsenoside; inflammation; macrophages; red ginseng