Journal of Ginseng Research

The Korean Society of Ginseng (고려인삼학회)
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Enzymatic bioconversion of ginseng powder increases the content of minor ginsenosides and potentiates immunostimulatory activity

  • Park, Jisang (Innovative Research and Education Center for Integrated Bioactive Materials and the Department of Bioactive Material Sciences, Jeonbuk National University) ;
  • Kim, Ju (Department of Molecular Biology and the Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Jeonbuk National University) ;
  • Ko, Eun-Sil (R&D Center, General Bio Co., Ltd.) ;
  • Jeong, Jong Hoon (R&D Center, General Bio Co., Ltd.) ;
  • Park, Cheol-Oh (R&D Center, General Bio Co., Ltd.) ;
  • Seo, Jeong Hun (R&D Center, General Bio Co., Ltd.) ;
  • Jang, Yong-Suk (Innovative Research and Education Center for Integrated Bioactive Materials and the Department of Bioactive Material Sciences, Jeonbuk National University)
  • Received : 2021.08.19
  • Accepted : 2021.12.14
  • Published : 2022.03.01
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Abstract

Background: Ginsenosides are biologically active components of ginseng and have various functions. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory activity of a ginseng product generated from ginseng powder (GP) via enzymatic bioconversion. This product, General Bio compound K-10 mg solution (GBCK10S), exhibited increased levels of minor ginsenosides, including ginsenoside-F1, compound K, and compound Y. Methods: The immunomodulatory properties of GBCK10S were confirmed using mice and a human natural killer (NK) cell line. We monitored the expression of molecules involved in immune responses via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, NK cell-targeted cell destruction, quantitative reverse-transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analyses. Results: Oral administration of GBCK10S significantly increased serum immunoglobulin M levels and primed splenocytes to express pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ. Oral administration of GBCK10S also activated NK cells in mice. Furthermore, GBCK10S treatment stimulated a human NK cell line in vitro, thereby increasing granzyme B gene expression and activating STAT5. Conclusion: GBCK10S may have potent immunostimulatory properties and can activate immune responses mediated by B cells, Th1-type T cells, and NK cells.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported financially by the Ministry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Startups (MSS), Korea, under the 'Regional Specialized Industry Development Plus Program (R&D, S3006097)', supervised by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT). We thank Dr. C. Kim (Inha University, Incheon, Korea) for providing the YAC-I cell line. Dr. J. Park was supported by the BK21 FOUR program in the Department of Bioactive Material Sciences. Flow cytometry was performed using the instrument installed in the Center for University-Wide Research Facilities (CURF) at Jeonbuk National University.

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