title: In vitroandin vivoanti-inflammatory activities of Korean Red Ginseng-derived components.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has been traditionally used for a long time, its anti-inflammatory role and underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms have been poorly understood. In this study, the anti-inflammatory roles of KRG-derived components, namely, water extract (KRG-WE), saponin fraction (KRG-SF), and nonsaponin fraction (KRG-NSF), were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  To check saponin levels in the test fractions, KRG-WE, KRG-NSF, and KRG-SF were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The anti-inflammatory roles and underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of these components were investigated using a macrophage-like cell line (RAW264.7 cells) and an acute gastritis model in mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the tested fractions, KGR-SF (but not KRG-NSF and KRG-WE) markedly inhibited the viability of RAW264.7 cells, and splenocytes at more than 500 μg/mL significantly suppressed NO production at 100 μg/mL, diminished mRNA expression of inflammatory genes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-β at 200 μg/mL, and completely blocked phagocytic uptake by RAW264.7 cells. All three fractions suppressed luciferase activity triggered by interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), but not that triggered by activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-kappa B. Phospho-IRF3 and phospho-TBK1 were simultaneously decreased in KRG-SF. Interestingly, all these fractions, when orally administered, clearly ameliorated the symptoms of gastric ulcer in HCl/ethanol-induced gastritis mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that KRG-WE, KRG-NSF, and KRG-SF might have anti-inflammatory properties, mostly because of the suppression of the IRF3 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Cheongju University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Su
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sulgi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Nak Yoon
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sungyoul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Adithan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aravinthan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Youl
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Korean Red Ginseng; anti-inflammatory activity; gastritis; nonsaponin fraction; saponin fraction