• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.244-247
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• 2006

Neuronal cell death significantly contributes to neuronal loss in neurological injury and disease. Typically, neuronal loss or destruction upon exposure to neurotoxins, oxidative stress, or DNA damage causes neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we attempted to determine whether ginsenoside Rg3 from red ginseng has a neuroprotective effect via an anti-apoptotic role induced by S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) at the molecular level. We also investigated the antioxidant effect of Rg3 using a metal-catalyzed reaction with $Cu^{2+}/H_2O_2$. Our results showed that Rg3 ($40-100\;{\mu}g/mL$) protected SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells under cytotoxic conditions and effectively protected DNA from fragmentation. In the signal pathway, caspase-3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were kept at an inactivated status when pretreated with Rg3 in all ranges. In particular, the important upstream p-Akt signal pathway was increased in a dose-dependent manner, which indicates that Rg3 may contribute to cell survival. We also found that oxidative stress can be mitigated by Rg3. Therefore, we have concluded that Rg3 plays a certain role in neurodegenerative pathogenesis via an anti apoptotic, antioxidative effect.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2007

Ginsenosides are one of the most well-known traditional herbal medicines frequently used for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms in korea. The anti-ischemic effects of the mixture of ginsenoside $Rg_3$, and CK on ischemia-induced isolated rat heart were investigated through analyses of changes in hemodynamics ; blood pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output. The subjects in this study were divided into four groups: normal control, the mixture of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and CK, an ischemia-induced group without any treatment, and an ischemia-induced group treated with the mixture of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and CK. There were no significant differences in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow and cardiac output between them before ischemia was induced. The supply of oxygen and buffer was stopped for five minutes to induce ischemia in isolated rat hearts, and the mixture of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and CK was administered during ischemia induction. Treatments of the mixture of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and CK significantly prevented decreases in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output under ischemic conditions. In addition, hemodynamics (except heart rate) of the group treated with the mixture of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and CK significantly recovered 60 minutes after reperfusion compared to the control group (mixture+ischemia vs ischemia - average perfusion pressure: 74.4${\pm}$2.97% vs. 85.1${\pm}$3.01%, average aortic flow volume: 49.11${\pm}$2.72% vs. 59.97${\pm}$2.93%, average coronary flow volume: 58.50${\pm}$2.81% vs. 72.72${\pm}$2.99%, and average cardiac output: 52.47${\pm}$2.78% vs. 63.11${\pm}$2.76%, p<0.01, respectively). These results suggest that treatment of the mixture of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and CK has distinct anti-ischemic effects in ex vivo model of ischemia-induced rat heart.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.421-430
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• 2019

Background: The ginsenoside Rg3, one of active components of red ginseng, has chemopreventive and anticancer potential. Cancer stem cells retain self-renewal properties which account for cancer recurrence and resistance to anticancer therapy. In our present study, we investigated whether the standardized Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) and Rg3 could modulate the manifestation of breast cancer stem cell-like features through regulation of self-renewal activity. Methods: The effects of RGE and Rg3 on the proportion of $CD44^{high}/CD24^{low}$ cells, as representative characteristics of stem-like breast cancer cells, were determined by flow cytometry. The mammosphere formation assay was performed to assess self-renewal capacities of breast cancer cells. Aldehyde dehydrogenase activity of MCF-7 mammospheres was measured by the ALDEFLUOR assay. The expression levels of Sox-2, Bmi-1, and P-Akt and the nuclear localization of hypoxia inducible $factor-1{\alpha}$ in MCF-7 mammospheres were verified by immunoblot analysis. Results: Both RGE and Rg3 decreased the viability of breast cancer cells and significantly reduced the populations of $CD44^{high}/CD24^{low}$ in MDA-MB-231 cells. RGE and Rg3 treatment attenuated the expression of Sox-2 and Bmi-1 by inhibiting the nuclear localization of hypoxia inducible $factor-1{\alpha}$ in MCF-7 mammospheres. Suppression of the manifestation of breast cancer stem cell-like properties by Rg3 was mediated through the blockade of Akt-mediated self-renewal signaling. Conclusion: This study suggests that Rg3 has a therapeutic potential targeting breast cancer stem cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.636-645
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• 2022

Background: Ginsenoside Rg3 and gemcitabine have mutual enhancing antitumor effects. However, the underlying mechanisms are not clear. This study explored the influence of ginsenoside Rg3 on Zinc finger protein 91 homolog (ZFP91) expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) and their regulatory mechanisms on gemcitabine sensitivity. Methods: RNA-seq and survival data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-PAAD and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) were used for in-silicon analysis. PANC-1, BxPC-3, and PANC-1 gemcitabine-resistant (PANC-1/GR) cells were used for in vitro analysis. PANC-1 derived tumor xenograft nude mice model was used to assess the influence of ginsenoside Rg3 and ZFP91 on tumor growth in vivo. Results: Ginsenoside Rg3 reduced ZFP91 expression in PAAD cells in a dose-dependent manner. ZFP91 upregulation was associated with significantly shorter survival of patients with PAAD. ZFP91 overexpression induced gemcitabine resistance, which was partly conquered by ginsenoside Rg3 treatment. ZFP91 depletion sensitized PANC-1/GR cells to gemcitabine treatment. ZFP91 interacted with Testis-Specific Y-Encoded-Like Protein 2 (TSPYL2), induced its poly-ubiquitination, and promoted proteasomal degradation. Ginsenoside Rg3 treatment weakened ZFP91-induced TSPYL2 poly-ubiquitination and degradation. Enforced TSPYL2 expression increased gemcitabine sensitivity of PAAD cells and partly reversed induced gemcitabine resistance in PANC-1/GR cells. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg3 can increase gemcitabine sensitivity of pancreatic adenocarcinoma at least via reducing ZFP91 mediated TSPYL2 destabilization.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.156-164
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the anxiolytic-like effects Panax ginseng in mice using the elevated plus-maze model. Furthermore, the anxiolytic-like effects of Panax ginseng were compared to a known active anxiolytic drug, diazepam. Ginseng total saponin (GTS, 100 mg/kg) from red ginseng (RG), sun ginseng (SG) total extract (50 mg/kg), butanol fraction of SG(25 and 50 mg/kg) and ginsenosides ($Rb_1,\;Rg_1,\;and\;Rg_5$ and Rk mixture) significantly increased the number of open arm entries and the time spent on the open arm, compared with that of control. However, Red ginseng (RG) total extract (l00 mg/kg), GTS (25, 50 mg/kg), SG total extract (25 mg/kg) and ginsenosides ($Rg_{3}-R\;and\;Rg_{3}-S$) did not increase the number of open arm entries and the time spent on the open arm. On the other hand, butanol fraction of RG (l00 mg/kg), total extract of SG (50 mg/kg), butanol fraction of SG (50 mg/kg), ginsenosides ($Rb_{1},\;and\;Rg_{5}$ and Rk mixture) decreased the locomotor activity, in a similar fashion to diazepam. These data support that ginseng has the anxiolytic-like effects and the anxiolytic potential of SG was stronger than that of RG. Ginsenosides $Rb_{1},\;Rg_{1},\;and\;Rg_{5}$ and Rk mixture play important role on the anxiolytic-like effects of Panax ginseng. We provide evidence that ginseng and some ginsenosides may be useful for the treatment of anxiety.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2016

Background: Ginsenoside-Rg3, the pharmacologically active component of red ginseng, has been found to inhibit tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis in various cancer models. Previously, we found that 20(R)-ginsenoside-Rg3 (Rg3) could inhibit angiogenesis. Since microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to affect many biological processes, they might play an important role in ginsenoside-mediated angiomodulation. Methods: In this study, we examined the underlying mechanisms of Rg3-induced angiosuppression through modulating the miRNA expression. In the miRNA-expression profiling analysis, six miRNAs and three miRNAs were found to be up- or down-regulated in vascular-endothelial-growth-factor-induced human-umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after Rg3 treatment, respectively. Results: A computational prediction suggested that mature hsa-miR-520h (miR-520h) targets ephrin receptor (Eph) B2 and EphB4, and hence, affecting angiogenesis. The up-regulation of miR-520h after Rg3 treatment was validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, while the protein expressions of EphB2 and EphB4 were found to decrease, respectively. The mimics and inhibitors of miR- 520h were transfected into HUVECs and injected into zebra-fish embryos. The results showed that overexpression of miR-520h could significantly suppress the EphB2 and EphB4 protein expression, proliferation, and tubulogenesis of HUVECs, and the subintestinal-vessel formation of the zebra fish. Conclusion: These results might provide further information on the mechanism of Rg3-induced angiosuppression and the involvement of miRNAs in angiogenesis.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.147-150
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• 2005

Macrophage scavenger receptors (MSRs) induce microglial interaction with ${\beta}$-amyloid fibrils (fA${\beta}$) that are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although microglia are know n to have a dual effect on formation of plaque and clearance of fA${\beta}$ in the AD brain, receptor-mediated phagocytosis is a very important tool for preventing amyloid plaque via activated microglia in the early stage of AD. In the study, we examined whether ginsonoside Rg3 enhances the microglial Phagocytosis of A${\beta}$1-42 through Phagocytosis assay, gene expression (RT-PCR) and protein assay (western blots) for the cell responsiveness presented between Rg3-treated and non-treated groups. Fluro-labeled Ac-LDL and E.coli particles were used as control proteins for phagocytosis. In previous studies, this was a particularly interesting property of Rg3 in the stimulation and phagocytosis of macrophages in the periphery. We report here that ginsenoside Rg3 increased the expression of type-A MSR (MSR-A) in microglia and thus accelerated the phagocytosis with an effective degradation of engulfed fA${\beta}$. This result suggests that Rg3 may play an important role in removing fA${\beta}$ by enhancing the receptor-mediated phagocytosis. In addition, Rg3 could be a potential candidate for balancing the rate of production of fA${\beta}$ in AD brain.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2004

When ginseng water extract was incubated at $60^{\circ}C$ in acidic conditions, its protopanaxadiol ginsenosides were transformed to ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and ${\Delta}^{20}$-ginsenoside $Rg_3$. However, protopanaxadiol glycoside ginsenosides $Rb_1, Rb_2$ and Rc isolated from ginseng were mostly not transformed to ginsenoside $Rg_3$ by the incubation in neutral condition. The transformation of these ginsenosides to ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and ${\Delta}^{20}$-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ was increased by increasing incubation temperature and time in acidic condition: the optimal incubation time and temperature for this transformation was 5 h and $60^{\circ}C$ resepectively. The transformed ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and ${\Delta}^{20}$-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ were metabolized to ginsenoside $Rh_2$ and $\Delta^{20}$--ginsenoside $Rh_2$, respectively, by human fecal microflora. Among the bacteria isolated from human fecal microflora, Bacteroides sp., and Bifidobacterium sp. and Fusobacterium sp. potently transformed ginsenoside $Rg_3$ to ginsenoside $Rh_2$. Acid-treated ginseng (AG) extract, fermented AG extract, ginsenoside $Rh_2$ and protopanaxadiol showed potent cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines. AG extract, fermented AG extract and protopanaxadiol potently inhibited the growth of Helicobacter pylori.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.433-441
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• 2021

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are primarily characterized as dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Ginsenoside-Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extract (Rg3-KRGE) is known to exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects on neurological disorders. However, effects of Rg3-KRGE in EAE remain unclear. Methods: Here, we investigated whether Rg3-KRGE may improve the symptoms and pathological features of myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein (MOG)_35-55 peptide - induced chronic EAE mice through improving the integrity of the BBB. Results: Rg3-KRGE decreased EAE score and spinal demyelination. Rg3-KRGE inhibited Evan's blue dye leakage in spinal cord, suppressed increases of adhesion molecule platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, extracellular matrix proteins fibronection, and matrix metallopeptidase-9, and prevented decreases of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, claudin-3, and claudin-5 in spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE repressed increases of proinflammatory transcripts cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but enhanced expression levels of anti-inflammatory transcripts arginase-1 and IL-10 in the spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE inhibited the expression of oxidative stress markers (MitoSOX and 4-hydroxynonenal), the enhancement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NOX4, and NADPH activity in the spinal cord of chronic EAE mice. Furthermore, apocynin, a NOX inhibitor, mimicked beneficial effects of Rg3-KRGE in chronic EAE mice. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Rg3-KRGE might alleviate behavioral symptoms and pathological features of MS by improving BBB integrity through modulation of NOX2/4 expression.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.129-139
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• 2024

Liver diseases are a significant global health burden and are among the most common diseases. Ginssennoside Rg3 (Rg3), which is one of the most abundant ginsenosides, has been found to have significant preventive and therapeutic effects against various types of diseases with minimal side effects. Numerous studies have demonstrated the significant preventive and therapeutic effects of Rg3 on various liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, acute liver injury, nonalcoholic liver diseases (NAFLD), liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The underlying molecular mechanism behind these effects is attributed to apoptosis, autophagy, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities, and the regulation of multiple signaling pathways. This review provides a comprehensive description of the potential molecular mechanisms of Rg3 in the development of liver diseases. The article focuses on the regulation of apoptosis, oxidative stress, autophagy, inflammation, and other related factors. Additionally, the review discusses combination therapy and liver targeting strategy, which can accelerate the translation of Rg3 from bench to bedside. Overall, this article serves as a valuable reference for researchers and clinicians alike.