• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.133-137
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• 2010

Ginsan is an acidic polysaccharide purified from Panax ginseng, a famous oriental herb. Although a variety of biological activities of ginsan have been studied, the effects of ginsan on spleen cells are not fully elucidated. We investigated the effect of ginsan on the viability and proliferation of spleen cells. Using Cell Counting $Kit-8^{(R)}$ solution and trypan blue solution, we found that ginsan significantly enhanced viability and proliferation. Multiple clusters, indicating proliferation, were observed in ginsan-treated spleen cells and, carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester and surface marker staining assay revealed that ginsan promoted proliferation from $CD19^+$ B cells rather than $CD4^+$ or $CD8^+$ T cells. In addition, ginsan decreased the percentage of late apoptotic cells. Ginsan increased the surface expression of CD25 and CD69 as well as production of interleukin-2 from spleen cells, suggesting increased activation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that ginsan increases the viability and proliferation of spleen cells via multiple mechanisms, valuable information for broadening the use of ginsan in clinical and research settings.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.169-173
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• 2009

Ginsan, a Panax ginseng polysaccharide that contains glucopyranoside and fructofuranoside, has immunomodulatory effects. Although several biologic studies of ginsan have been performed, its effects on dendritic cells (DCs), which are antigen-presenting cells of the immune system, have not been studied. We investigated the immunomodulatory effects of ginsan on DCs. Ginsan had little effect on DC viability, even when used at high concentrations. Ginsan markedly increased the levels of production by DCs of IL-12 and TNF-${\alpha}$, as measured by ELISA. To examine the maturation-inducing activity of ginsan, we measured the surface expression levels of the maturation markers MHC class II and CD86 (B7.2) on DCs. It is interesting that ginsan profoundly enhanced the expression of CD86 on DC surfaces, whereas it increased that of MHC class II only marginally. In $^3H$-thymidine incorporation assays, ginsan-treated DCs stimulated significantly higher proliferation of allogeneic $CD4^+$ T lymphocytes than did medium-treated DCs. Taken together, our data demonstrate that ginsan stimulates DCs by inducing maturation. Because DCs are critical antigen-presenting cells in immune responses, this study provides valuable information on the activities of ginsan.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2010

Background: There have been several reports describing the capability of ginseng extracts as an adjuvant. In this study, we tested if ginsan, a polysaccharide extracted from Panax ginseng, was effective in enhancing antibody response to orally delivered Salmonella antigen. Methods: Ginsan was treated before oral salmonella antigen administration. Salmonella specific antibody was determined by ELISA. mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. Cell migration was determined by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. COX expression was detected by western blot. Results: Ginsan treatment before oral Salmonella antigen delivery significantly increased both secretory and serum antibody production. Ginsan increased the expression of COX in the Peyer's patches. Various genes were screened and we found that CCL3 mRNA expression was increased in the Peyer's patch. Ginsan increased dendritic cells in the Peyer's patch and newly migrated dendritic cells were mostly found in the subepithelial dome region. When COX inhibitors were treated, the expression of CCL3 was reduced. COX inhibitor also antagonized both the migration of dendritic cells and the humoral immune response against oral Salmonella antigen. Conclusion: Ginsan effectively enhances the humoral immune response to orally delivered antigen, mediated by CCL3 via COX. Ginsan may serve as a potent vaccine suppliment for oral immunization.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2004

Background: We previously reported that ginsan, a polysaccharide extracted from Panax ginseng had an immunostimulatory activity such as mitogenic activity, activation of macrophages and killer cells, and production of a variety of cytokines which resulted in antitumor and antiseptic effects. We further purified $\alpha$-(1$\longrightarrow$6)-glucan and $\beta$-(2$\longrightarrow$6)-fructan from the ginsan with size exclusion and ion-exchange column chromatography successively. In this study, we performed the structure-based activity of ginsan by comparison with known polysacchrides such as $\beta$-glucan, curdlan, laminarin, levan, dextran, lentinan and OK-432. Methods: To investigate the immunostimulatory activity of several polysaccharide compounds, we investigated the stimulation of lymphocytes proliferation, the generation of activated killer cells and the secretion of nitrites from activated macrophages. Results: Of polysaccharides tested, curdlan and ginsan stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, suggesting that the molecular weight and composition of polysaccharide are dependent on the mitogenic activity. The production of nitric oxide was significantly increased in curdlan, levan, ginsan and its fraction, indicating that fructan has also capacity to activate macrophages and may devote to kill pathogens. In addition, the activation of macrophages was seemed to be independent of molecular weight of polysaccharide. The generation of AK cells was exhibited in order of curdlan, OK-432> F1, ginsan, F3> levan> etc. The AK activity may be dependent on molecular weight and composition of polysaccharides. Conclusion: Unfortunately, purified polysaccharide from ginsan were less active on immunostimulatory activity than mixed compounds of polysaccharides. From the viewpoint of structure and activity relationships, we found several characteristic features.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.343-350
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• 2005

Gamma radiation causes suppression of the immune function, and immune properties are related to cytokine production. In the present study, the polysaccharide, Ginsan, purified from an ethanol-insoluble fraction of Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Araliaceae) water extract was studied to assess its effects on the immunosuppressive activities of gamma radiation. Gin­san was found to stimulate murine normal splenocytes by inducing the mRNA expressions of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines, and also restore the mRNA expression of IFN-$/gamma$, Th1 cytokine, after its inhibition by whole-body gamma irradiation. Therefore, Ginsan was found to restore the T lymphocytes function that had been suppressed by gamma irradiation in allogenic MLR (mixed lymphocyte reactions). However, Ginsan exhibited no excessive stimulatory effects on the control group. The above results indicated that Ginsan may constitute a new noble agent for the improvement of gamma radiation-induced immunosuppression.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.309.1-309.1
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• 2002

Ginsan, a polysaccharide extracted from Panax ginseng. was earlier scrutinized for a biological-response modifier. We further studied the protective and restorative activity of Ginsan against sublethal dose irradiation owing to increase production of endogenous hematopoietic growth factors such as IL-1. TNF-${\alpha}$. IL-6, GM-CSF. Which induce strong redox-emzyme elevation. Exposing to radiation induces reactive oxygen species (ROS). which play an important causative role in radiation damage. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.208.2-209
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• 2003

Ginsan. a new polysaccharide isolated from Panax ginseng, has been previously reported as a good immunomodulator. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of Ginsan against a lethal sepsis induced by Staphylococcus aureus infection. The survival rate of mice treated with Ginsan 24 h prior to S. aureus infection was 80％ whereas PBS-treated mice showed 20％ of survival in the same infection. (omitted)

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.531-538
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• 2004

Ginsan, a polysaccharide isolated from Panax ginseng, has been shown to be a potent immunomodulator, producing a variety of cytokines such as TNF-a, IL-1$\beta$, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$ and GM-CSF, and stimulating lymphoid cells to proliferate. In the present study, we analyzed some immune functions 1$^{st}$-5$^{th}$ days after ginsan i.p. injection, including the level of non-protein thiols (NPSH) as antioxidants, heme oxygenase (HO) activity as a marker of oxidative stress, zoxazolamine-induced paralysis time and level of hepatic cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) as indices of drug metabolism system, and activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, and albumin level as indicators of hepatotoxicity. Ginsan in the dose of 100 mg/kg caused marked elevation (1.7-2 fold) of HO activity, decrease of total CYP450 level (by 20-34%), and prolongation of zoxazolamine-induced paralysis time (by 65-70%), and showed some differences between male and female mice. Ginsan treatment did not seem to cause hepatic injury, since serum AST, ALT, and ALP activities and levels of total bilirubin and albumin were not changed.d.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.194-200
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• 2014

Ginsan, polysaccharide isolated from the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, has been shown to be a potent immunomodulator, producing several cytokines and stimulating lymphoid cells to proliferate. In this study, ginsan was orally inoculated into BALB/c mice up to 39 days and the activity of immune cells containing macrophages and T cells was analyzed. Moreover, the production of cytokines, e.g., tumor necrotic factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), GM-CSF and IL-12 was also analyzed. In results, the phagocytosis of macrophages was increased. About 13% cytotoxicity of NK cells was observed in 22 days and 29 days of administration. But, oral administration did not highly affect the proliferation of T cells. In cytokine analysis, 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg at 22 days and 29 days showed three times more increase in TNF-${\alpha}$ than the controls. IFN-${\gamma}$ showed 1.07 and 1.16 times more increase at 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg over 22 days, respectively more than the controls. 32 days of 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg induced GM-CSF of about 1.3 times more than the controls. IL-12 was not induced in samples more than the controls. Ginsan could be a potential immunostimulator. Therefore, our study suggests that it can be adapted as an immunostimulator that requires a relatively short oral administration.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.206.1-206.1
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• 2003

The immunomodulator Ginsan has been found previously by us to stimulate the secretion of high levels of IL -1. IL -6 and TNF-alpha in irradiated mice. These cytokines are known to induce proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells from the spleen and bone marrow and to protect mice from DNA-damaging agents. The present studies were evaluated as a cytoprotective agent against toxicity of the alkylating drugs. (omitted)