| Kinase Assay: |
| Life Sci. 2014 Oct 12;115(1-2):15-21. | | Ginsenoside Re enhances small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) current in human coronary artery endothelial cells.[Pubmed: 25242515 ] | Ginsenosides, active components in ginseng, have been shown to increase nitric oxide (NO) production in aortic endothelial cells. This effect was reversed by tetraethylammonium (TEA) inhibition of endothelial Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (KCa) channels. The objectives of this study, therefore, were to test 1) whether vasorelaxing Ginsenoside Re could affect KCa current, an important regulator of NO production, in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs); and 2) whether small-conductance KCa (SKCa) channel was the channel subtype involved.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Ionic currents of cultured HCAECs were studied using whole-cell patch clamp technique.
Ginsenoside Re dose-dependently increased endothelial outward currents, with an EC50 of 408.90±1.59nM, and a maximum increase of 36.20±5.62% (mean±SEM; p<0.05). Apamin, an SKCa channel inhibitor, could block this effect, while La(3+), a nonselective cation channel (NSC) blocker, could not. When NSC channel, inward-rectifier K(+) channel, intermediate-, and large-conductance KCa channels were simultaneously blocked, Ginsenoside Re could still increase outward currents significantly (35.49±4.22%; p<0.05); this effect was again abolished by apamin. Repeating the experiments when Cl(-) channel was additionally blocked gave similar results. Finally, we demonstrated that Ginsenoside Re could hyperpolarize HCAECs; this effect was reversed by apamin. These data clearly indicate that Ginsenoside Re increased HCAEC outward current via SKCa channel activation, and NSC channel was not involved.
CONCLUSIONS:
This is the first report to demonstrate that Ginsenoside Re could increase SKCa channel activity in HCAECs. This can be a mechanism mediating ginseng's beneficial actions on coronary vessels. | | Mol Pharmacol. 2006 Dec;70(6):1916-24. | | Ginsenoside Re, a main phytosterol of Panax ginseng, activates cardiac potassium channels via a nongenomic pathway of sex hormones.[Pubmed: 16985185 ] | Ginseng root is one of the most popular herbs throughout the world and is believed to be a panacea and to promote longevity. It has been used as a medicine to protect against cardiac ischemia, a major cause of death in the West.
We have previously demonstrated that Ginsenoside Re, a main phytosterol of Panax ginseng, inhibits Ca(2+) accumulation in mitochondria during cardiac ischemia/reperfusion, which is attributable to nitric oxide (NO)-induced Ca(2+) channel inhibition and K(+) channel activation in cardiac myocytes.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In this study, we provide compelling evidence that Ginsenoside Re activates endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) to release NO, resulting in activation of the slowly activating delayed rectifier K(+) current. The eNOS activation occurs via a nongenomic pathway of each of androgen receptor, estrogen receptor-alpha, and progesterone receptor, in which c-Src, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, Akt, and eNOS are sequentially activated. However, Ginsenoside Re does not stimulate proliferation of androgen-responsive LNCaP cells and estrogen-responsive MCF-7 cells, implying that Ginsenoside Re does not activate a genomic pathway of sex hormone receptors. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments with a probe, SCCoR (single cell coactivator recruitment), indicate that the lack of genomic action is attributable to failure of coactivator recruitment.
CONCLUSIONS:
Thus, Ginsenoside Re acts as a specific agonist for the nongenomic pathway of sex steroid receptors, and NO released from activated eNOS underlies cardiac K(+) channel activation and protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. |
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| Cell Research: |
| Int Immunopharmacol. 2010 May;10(5):626-31. | | Ginsenoside Re enhances survival of human CD4+ T cells through regulation of autophagy.[Pubmed: 20230918 ] | In the present study, we examined the effects of Ginsenoside Re (Re) on cytokine expression, cytokine-dependent autophagy and cell survival in human CD4(+) T cells.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
When CD4(+) T cells isolated from human peripheral blood were treated with Re, LC3 and monodansylcadaverine (MDC), representative markers of autophagy, were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, Re suppressed the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and immunity-related GTPase family M (IRGM) in CD4(+) T cells whereas no changes in other autophagy-related signaling molecules (ERK, p38 and AKT-mTOR-p70S6k) were found. Concomitantly, we observed that Re increased the proliferation of CD4(+) T cells with decreased cell death.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our results demonstrate that Ginsenoside Re enhanced viability of CD4(+) T cells through the regulation of IFN-gamma-dependent autophagy activity. |
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| Animal Research: |
| Am J Chin Med. 2016;44(2):401-13. | | Ginsenoside Re Attenuates Neuroinflammation in a Symptomatic ALS Animal Model.[Pubmed: 27080948 ] | Ginsenoside Re (G-Re), one of the most active ingredients of ginseng, has pharmacological activities that affect a number of targets. To investigate the effects of G-Re on neuroinflammation, we used G-Re (2.5[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/g) at the Joksamni acupressure point (ST36) once every other day for one week.
To evaluate G-Re function in symptomatic human-superoxide dismutase 1 (hSOD1[Formula: see text] transgenic mice, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed with the spinal cord of symptomatic hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mice.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Here, we report that G-Re exhibits potent neuroprotective effects against neuroinflammation in a murine model of ALS. G-Re treatment reduced the loss of motor neurons and active-microglia-related expression of Iba-1 in the spinal cord of symptomatic hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mice. In addition, compared with age-matched hSOD1(G93A) mice, G-Re-treated hSOD1(G93A) mice showed a significant reduction in expression of pro-inflammatory proteins such as CD14 and TNF-[Formula: see text] protein related to TLR4 signaling pathway. G-Re administration also led to a decrease in cell death-related phospho-p38 protein levels, and had an antioxidative effect by reducing HO1 expression.
CONCLUSIONS:
Together, our data suggest that G-Re could have potent anti-neuroinflammatory effects on ALS by inhibiting the TLR4 pathway. | | Pharmacol. Biochem., 2012, 101(1):93-8. | | Ginsenoside Re attenuates diabetes-associated cognitive deficits in rats.[Pubmed: 22197711 ] | This study was designed to investigate the effect of Ginsenoside Re (Re) on cognitive functions, oxidative stress and inflammation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Diabetic rats were treated with Re (40mg/kg) for 8weeks, blood glucose and body weight were measured monthly and weekly, respectively. Cognitive performances were evaluated with Morris water maze. Brain was obtained for measurements of TNF-α and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in both temporal cortex and hippocampus, blood was collected for assays of TNF-α, MDA and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels.
Learning and memory abilities were significantly (both P<0.01) impaired in diabetic rats, accompanied by the marked (all P<0.01) elevations of TNF-α and MDA levels in temporal cortex and hippocampus. Increment of MDA and decrement of GSH in serum also occurred with significant differences (both P<0.01). Chronic treatment with Re markedly (P<0.05) improved the cognition of diabetic rats, evidenced by the decreased escape latency and the increased percentage of time spent in the target quadrant. Furthermore, Re treatment remarkably (P<0.05) reduced the levels of TNF-α and MDA in both brain areas of diabetic rats. Decline of MDA level and elevation of GSH level in serum were also seen in Re-treated diabetic rats, coupled with decrease in serum glucose level, all with statistically significant differences.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings firstly provide the first evidence that Ginsenoside Re can remarkably attenuate diabetes-associated cognitive decline, secondly confirm the involvement of oxidative stress and inflammation in the development of cognitive impairment caused by diabetes, finally point toward the potential of Ginsenoside Re as an adjuvant therapy to conventional anti-hyperglycemic regimens as well as diabetes-associated cognitive decline. |
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