title: Chondroprotective Effects of Ginsenoside Rg1 in  Human Osteoarthritis Chondrocytes and a Rat Model  of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Transection.
abstract: This study aimed to assess whether Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) inhibits inflammatory responses in human chondrocytes and reduces articular cartilage damage in a rat model of osteoarthritis (OA). Gene expression and protein levels of type II collagen, aggrecan, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were determined in vitro by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) amounts in the culture medium were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For in vivo assessment, a rat model of OA was generated by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). Four weeks after ACLT, Rg1 (30 or 60 mg/kg) or saline was administered by gavage once a day for eight consecutive weeks. Joint damage was analyzed by histology and immunohistochemistry. Ginsenoside Rg1 inhibited Interleukin (IL)-1β-induced chondrocyte gene and protein expressions of MMP-13, COX-2 and PGE2, and prevented type II collagen and aggrecan degradation, in a dose-dependent manner. Administration of Ginsenoside Rg1 to OA rats attenuated cartilage degeneration, and reduced type II collagen loss and MMP-13 levels. These findings demonstrated that Ginsenoside Rg1 can inhibit inflammatory responses in human chondrocytes in vitro and reduce articular cartilage damage in vivo, confirming the potential therapeutic value of Ginsenoside Rg1 in OA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 678 Furong Road, Hefei 230601, China. sunyccc@126.com.|Department of Orthopedics, Lu'an People's Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Lu'an 237000, China. sunyccc@126.com.
authors.forename: Wendan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 678 Furong Road, Hefei 230601, China. jjhhu@sina.com.
authors.forename: Juehua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The Peoples Hospital of Luhe Affiliated to Yangzhou University Medical Academy, Nanjing 211500, China. dzwangzhen@126.com.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 99 Huaihai West Road, Xuzhou 221000, China. officialwdy@126.com.
authors.forename: Dongying
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China. officialzxz@126.com.
authors.forename: Yumin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D036145:Ginsenosides; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C489691:Ptgs2 protein, rat; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D015232:Dinoprostone; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1
keywords: ginsenoside‐Rg1;  chondrocyte;  osteoarthritis