Stimulation of Innate Immune Function by Panax ginseng after Heat Processing

Abstract

Panax ginseng Meyer has been used for the treatment of immune diseases and for strengthening the immune function. In this study, we evaluated the innate immune-stimulating functions and action mechanisms of white ginseng (WG) and heat-processed ginseng (HPG) in RAW264.7 cells. According to LC-MS analysis results, WG contained typical ginsenosides, such as Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rd, and Rg1, whereas HPG contained Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5 as well as typical ginsenosides. HPG, not WG, enhanced NF-κB transcriptional activity, cytokine production (IL-6 and TNF-α), and MHC class I and II expression in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, HPG phosphorylated MAPKs and NF-kB pathways. In experiments with inhibitors, the ERK inhibitor completely suppressed the effect of HPG on IL-6 and TNF-α production. HPG-induced c-Jun activation was suppressed by an ERK inhibitor and partially suppressed by JNK, p38, and IκBα inhibitors. Collectively, these results suggested that HPG containing Rg3, Rg5, and Rk1 increased macrophage activation which was regulated by the ERK/c-Jun pathway in RAW264.7 cells.

Enhanced Intestinal Immune Response in Mice after Oral Administration of Korea Red Ginseng-Derived Polysaccharide

“…However, the pharmacological activities of red ginseng have not been attributed to ginsenosides. Recently, several studies reported that Korea red ginseng-derived polysaccharides showed immune-enhancing activities such as macrophage activation, cytokine production mediated by Peyer’s patches, and splenic lymphocyte proliferation in vitro and in vivo [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Nonetheless, there are few studies on the effects of polysaccharides from Korea red ginseng (KRG) on IgA production via Peyer’s patch activation and α-defensin expression for maintaining intestinal homeostasis in vivo.…”

Red Ginseng Improves Exercise Endurance by Promoting Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Myoblast Differentiation

“…The various health-promoting effects of RG have been reported to include alleviation of fatigue, protection from muscle damage after strenuous exercise, and improvements in energy metabolism [21][22][23][24]. Red ginseng has been reported to show an increase in multiple types of ginsenosides compared to white ginseng, including Rg3, Rk1, Rf, and Rg5 [25,26]. Rg3 was previously reported to display anti-fatigue effects [27].…”

Chemical Comparison of White Ginseng before and after Extrusion by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS and Multivariate Statistical Analysis

“…However, the contents of malonylginsenoside-Rb1, -Rc, -Rb3, -Rd, -Rb2, -Rg1, and -Re, and ginsenoside-Re5 in all the WG samples were significantly higher.. This was illustrated in the heating trial, in which the concentration of ginsenosides was affected by the thermal processing condition and the degree of conversion between malonyl and neutral ginsenosides [ 37 , 42 , 43 ]. The results suggested that malonyl-ginsenoside was thermally unstable and especially susceptible to hydrolysis by extruding treatment.…”