Bioinformatics Exploration of Ginseng: A Review

Abstract

Ginseng contains an extraordinarily complex mixture of chemical constituents that can vary with the species used, the place of origin, and the growing conditions. Various computational analyses which include genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and bioinformatics have been used to study ginseng plant. A genome-scale metabolic network offers a holistic view of ginsenoside biosynthesis, helps to predict genes associated with the production of pharmacologically vital dammarane-type ginsenosides, and provides insight for improving medicinal values of ginseng by genomics-based breeding. The draft genomic architecture of tetraploid P. ginseng cultivar (cv.) Chunpoong (ChP) by de novo genome assembly, was found to be 2.98 Gbp and consist of 59,352 annotated genes. Presently, bioinformatics exploration of ginseng includes studies on its P-glycoproteins, the impact of cytochrome P-450 on ginseng pharmacokinetics, as well as target prediction and differential gene expression network analyses. This study applauded Betasitosterol and Daucosterin as ginseng bioactive constituents that have several potential pharmacological effects in human, by modulating several proteins which include androgen receptor, HMG-CoA reductase, interlukin-2, and consequently impact the signaling cascade of several kinases such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), as well as many transcription factors such as polycomb protein SUZ12.

Reflections on ‘The biological action of saponins in animal systems: a review’

“…Today we use computer-assisted prediction tools, such as docking and molecular dynamics to explore the action of saponins (Karpagam et al, 2013) including antiviral effects against a novel strain of coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 (Falade et al, 2021) and their effects on enzymes such as the Cytochromes P450 CYP3A4 and CYP19A1 (AKA aromatase or estrogen synthase), and their upstream receptors pregnane X receptor (PXR( and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) that are responsible e.g. to metabolize both drugs and steroidal hormones (Da-Cheng and Pei-Gen, 2019;Fatoki, 2021). These may contribute to our better understanding of how specific saponins indeed affect both growth, protein utilisation and egg-laying in fish.…”