Ginsenosides and their metabolites: a review of their pharmacological activities in the skin

Abstract

Ginsenosides are representative pharmaceutical compounds found in various forms in Panax ginseng, a traditional medicinal plant. They are converted to their metabolites Rg2, Rg3, compound K, and others by human intestinal microflora following ingestion. Numerous studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of ginsenosides against aberrant molecular processes responsible for cancer, metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, antiaging effects of ginsenosides in human skin have been reported from clinical trial and in vitro model data. Ginsenosides have hence been proposed as promising natural cosmeceutical agents. In this review, we will critically review the known biological effects of several ginsenosides (Rb1, Rg3, Rd and compound K), such as anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, which arise from the modulation of diverse molecular pathways. The application potential of ginsenosides as cosmeceutical ingredients will also be reviewed.

In vitro antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of the compound K-rich fraction BIOGF1K, prepared from Panax ginseng

“…Recently, our group has developed an interesting fraction (BIOGF1K) with a higher amount of compound K, an active metabolite displaying anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and skin-protective activities [22], [23]. In the present study, we benchmark the molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities of BIOGF1K by exploring target proteins through molecular studies.…”

Metabolite profiling of ginsenosides in rat plasma, urine and feces by LC–MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Panax ginseng extract

“…One pathway involves sequential hydrolysis of the C‐20 and C‐3 outer sugar moieties to ginsenoside F2, followed by hydrolysis of C‐3 sugar moieties to form compound K (Qian, Cai, Wong, Mak, et al, ; Qian, Cai, Wong, & Jiang, ; Liu, Deng, Xu, & Xing, ). Another metabolic pathway involves hydrolysis of C‐20 sugar moieties to yield ginsenoside Rg3 (Lim, Lee, Dong, & Lee, ). The metabolic pathways of PPT‐type ginsenosides via intestinal microflora illustrate that C‐20 and C‐6 sugar moieties of PPT‐type ginsenosides were hydrolyzed to transform PPT (Kim et al, ; Choi et al, ; Fig.…”

Beneficial effects on skin health using polysaccharides from red ginseng by‐product

“…In the manufacturing process for red ginseng, a unique, physiologically active ingredient that is not found in ginseng is produced (So, Lee, Kim, Hyun, & Han, ; Wang et al, ): the widely known saponins (e.g., ginsenosides). Red ginseng contains a variety of other physiologically active compounds such as phenolic compounds, polyacetylenes, peptides, essential oils, and acidic polysaccharides (Lim, Lee, Dong, & Lee, ). As a result of red ginseng production, about 8,000 tons of by‐product are produced (Kang, Park, & Kim, ) and there will be many functional materials in the by‐product that are discarded.…”

“…(e.g., ginsenosides). Red ginseng contains a variety of other physiologically active compounds such as phenolic compounds, polyacetylenes, peptides, essential oils, and acidic polysaccharides (Lim, Lee, Dong, & Lee, 2015). As a result of red ginseng production, about 8,000 tons of by-product are produced (Kang, Park, & Kim, 2016) and there will be many functional materials in the by-product that are discarded.…”