Role of ginsenosides, the main active components of Panax ginseng , in inflammatory responses and diseases

Abstract

Panax ginseng is one of the most universally used herbal medicines in Asian and Western countries. Most of the biological activities of ginseng are derived from its main constituents, ginsenosides. Interestingly, a number of studies have reported that ginsenosides and their metabolites/derivatives—including ginsenoside (G)-Rb1, compound K, G-Rb2, G-Rd, G-Re, G-Rg1, G-Rg3, G-Rg5, G-Rh1, G-Rh2, and G-Rp1—exert anti-inflammatory activities in inflammatory responses by suppressing the production of proinflammatory cytokines and regulating the activities of inflammatory signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor-κB and activator protein-1. This review discusses recent studies regarding molecular mechanisms by which ginsenosides play critical roles in inflammatory responses and diseases, and provides evidence showing their potential to prevent and treat inflammatory diseases.

Morinda citrifolia noni water extract enhances innate and adaptive immune responses in healthy mice, ex vivo, and in vitro

“…An innate immune response, also known as a nonspecific immune response, is a rapid and first‐line defense mechanism to eliminate invading pathogens (including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans, and parasites) and intracellular danger signals (Janeway & Medzhitov, ; Yi, ; Yi, ). Innate immune responses are governed by various types of cells, including phagocytes (such as macrophages and monocytes), neutrophils, dendritic cells, and natural killer (NK) cells (Kim, Yi, Kim, & Cho, ; Labzin, Heneka, & Latz, ). The activation of innate immune responses involves various cellular and molecular functions: (a) migration of innate cells to infected sites, (b) phagocytic uptake of invading pathogens, (c) overexpression of inflammatory genes (e.g., inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS] and cyclooxygenase‐2 [COX‐2]), (d) production of various cytokines [e.g., tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β), IL‐6, IL‐12, and interferons (IFNs)] and inflammatory mediators (e.g., nitric oxide [NO] and prostaglandin E 2 [PGE 2 ]), and (5) release of free radical molecules (e.g., reactive oxygen/nitrogen species [ROS/RNS]; Jeannin, Duluc, & Delneste, ; Kim & Chung, ; Yang et al, ; Yi et al, ; Yu et al, ).…”

Cooperated biotransformation of ginsenoside extracts into ginsenoside 20( S )‐Rg3 by three thermostable glycosidases

“…Ginsenosides are the main remarkable active components of ginseng ( Panax ginseng C. A. Mayer). They show many biological activities including anticancer (Fu et al ; Jin et al ; Cheng and Xing ; Ma et al ; Oh et al ; Ahmmed et al ), anti‐inflammatory (Wang et al ; Kim et al ; Eom et al ; Shaukat et al ), antioxidant (Jung et al ), antiallergy (Bae et al ), immunity boosting (Liu et al ) and so on. According to the fundamental skeletons of ginsenosides, they can be classified into three types: oleanolic acid type, protopanaxadiol type (PPD‐type) and protopanaxatriol type (PPT‐type).…”

Ginsenoside Rg1 abolish imiquimod‐induced psoriasis‐like dermatitis in BALB/c mice via downregulating NF‐κB signaling pathway

“…Ginsenoside Rg1 (GRg1) is a steroid saponin (bioactive) which is reported as one of the major phytocomponent of Ginseng ( Panax ginseng radix or Panax Notogingseng ) present along with other types of ginsenosides including Rb1/2, Rg3, Rh2/3, Rd, and Re (Kim, Yi, Kim, & Cho, ). However, GRg1 is present in an abundant amount and responsible for various biological activities of ginseng ( Panax ginseng radix ) and thus considered as nutraceutical/functional food.…”