Red Ginseng Saponin Extract Attenuates Murine Collagen-Induced Arthritis by Reducing Pro-inflammatory Responses and Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Expression

Abstract

Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng C. A. MEYER, has been used as a food product and medicinal ingredient. In this study, we assessed the anti-arthritic effects of red ginseng saponin extract (RGSE), including ginsenosides Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5 as major components, on a murine type II collagen (CII)-induced arthritis (CIA), which is a valid animal model of human arthritis. Oral administration of RGSE at 10 mg/kg reduced the clinical arthritis score and paw swelling in the CIA mice, and inhibited joint space narrowing and histological arthritis, illustrating the severity of synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, pannus formation, and erosion of cartilage. RGSE inhibited the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 and nitrotyrosine formation, and recovered the expression of superoxide dismutase in the joints of the CIA mice. Orally administered RGSE also reduced the levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-a a and interleukin-1b b in the CIA mice. CII-or lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cytokine production, in addition to CII-specific proliferation, was reduced in the spleen cells of the RGSEtreated CIA mice, as compared with those from vehicle-treated CIA mice. Furthermore, RGSE administration protected against CIA-induced oxidative tissue damage by restoring the increased malondialdehyde levels and the decreased glutathione levels and catalase activities almost to control levels. Therefore, RGSE may be a beneficial supplement which can improve human arthritis.

Compound K, a Metabolite of Ginsenosides, Attenuates Collagen-induced Arthritis in Mice

“…The present study showed that CK attenuated disease activity in CIA mice, both preventively and therapeutically. In previous studies on the effect of ginsenosides on CIA, ginsenosides administration was initiated 18 to 26 days after the first immunization [5,6,8,9]. Consistent with these studies, our data showed that CK was prophylactically effective in suppressing progression of arthritis in the CIA model.…”

“…Meyer, have anti-arthritic or chondroprotective effects [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. However, the bioavailability of ginsenosides and their metabolites after oral administration was very low [15].…”

Ginsenosides Regulate PXR/NF-κB Signaling and Attenuate Dextran Sulfate Sodium–Induced Colitis

“…Ginsenosides are considered the major active ingredients of ginseng (Ouyang et al, 2014;Zhao et al, 2014). Ginseng saponins have various pharmacologic effects, such as antioxidation, antitumor, anti-inflammatory activities, and neuroprotective effects (Attele et al, 1999;Radad et al, 2006;Kim et al, 2010). A recent investigation suggested that ginseng suppressed key inflammatory players such as cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and NF-kB (Park et al, 2009;Kim et al, 2012).…”

Effect of <i>Arisaema erubescens</i> (Wall) Schott rhizome extract on rheumatoid arthritis

“…This disease can rapidly progress into multisystem inflammation with irreversible joint damage, causing premature mortality, disability and compromised quality of life in the industrialized and developing world [3,4]. Currently, the major categories of RA medications used in the clinical setting include disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DEMARDs), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroid hormone and biologics (TNF-α antibody and the decoy TNF-α receptor) [5]. Long-term use of these drugs leads to immune system weakness, bone marrow suppression, liver and kidney impairment, gastrointestinal discomfort and cartilage degeneration [6].…”