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Boopathi V, Nahar J, Murugesan M, Subramaniyam S, Kong BM, Choi SK, Lee CS, Ling L, Yang DU, Yang DC, Mathiyalagan R, Chan Kang S. In silico and in vitro inhibition of host-based viral entry targets and cytokine storm in COVID-19 by ginsenoside compound K. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19341. [PMID: 37809955 PMCID: PMC10558348 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that emerged as an epidemic, causing a respiratory disease with multiple severe symptoms and deadly consequences. ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 play crucial and synergistic roles in the membrane fusion and viral entry of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the ACE-2 receptor for viral entry, while TMPRSS2 proteolytically cleaves the S protein into S1 and S2 subunits, promoting membrane fusion. Therefore, ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 are potential drug targets for treating COVID-19, and their inhibition is a promising strategy for treatment and prevention. This study proposes that ginsenoside compound K (G-CK), a triterpenoid saponin abundant in Panax Ginseng, a dietary and medicinal herb highly consumed in Korea and China, effectively binds to and inhibits ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 expression. We initially conducted an in-silico evaluation where G-CK showed a high affinity for the binding sites of the two target proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, we evaluated the stability of G-CK using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for 100 ns, followed by MM-PBSA calculations. The MD simulations and free energy calculations revealed that G-CK has stable and favorable energies, leading to strong binding with the targets. Furthermore, G-CK suppressed ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA expression in A549, Caco-2, and MCF7 cells at a concentration of 12.5 μg/mL and in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells at a concentration of 6.5 μg/mL, without significant cytotoxicity.ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression were significantly lower in A549 and RAW 264.7 cells following G-CK treatment. These findings suggest that G-CK may evolve as a promising therapeutic against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinothini Boopathi
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
| | - Jinnatun Nahar
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
| | - Mohanapriya Murugesan
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
| | | | - Byoung Man Kong
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
| | - Sung-Keun Choi
- Daedong Korea Ginseng Co., Ltd, 86, Gunbuk-ro, Gunbuk-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do 32718 Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Soon Lee
- Daedong Korea Ginseng Co., Ltd, 86, Gunbuk-ro, Gunbuk-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do 32718 Republic of Korea
| | - Li Ling
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
| | - Dong Uk Yang
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
| | - Deok Chun Yang
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
| | - Ramya Mathiyalagan
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
| | - Se Chan Kang
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
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Huang C, Li P, Yang X, Niu T, Zhao S, Yang L, Wang R, Wang Z. Integrated transcriptome and proteome analyses reveal candidate genes for ginsenoside biosynthesis in Panax japonicus C. A. Meyer. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 13:1106145. [PMID: 36699857 PMCID: PMC9868605 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1106145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Panax japonicus C. A. Meyer is a plant of the Araliaceae family, and its rhizomes can be used as dietary supplements. It is extremely rich in bioactive components ginsenosides with benefits to human health. However, the underlying mechanisms of ginsenosides biosynthesis in Panax japonicus remains poorly understood. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of the metabolites, transcriptome, and proteome was conducted to investigate ginsenoside metabolism of Panax japonicus. Here, three types of ginsenosides were found to exhibited tissue-specific distribution using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Next, differentially expressed gene analysis revealed that transcript levels of ginsenosides biosynthetic genes have significant differences between differential samples. In addition, correlation analysis showed that the ginsenosides content was closely related to the expression level of 29 cytochrome P450s and 92 Uridine diphosphate-glycosyltransferases. Finally, phylogenetic analysis was performed for the target proteins to conduct preliminary studies on their functions and classification. This study provides insight into the dynamic changes and biosynthetic pathway of ginsenosides and offers valuable information on the metabolic regulation of Panax japonicus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaokang Huang
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Pengfei Li
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaolin Yang
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tengfei Niu
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shujuan Zhao
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Yang
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rufeng Wang
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengtao Wang
- The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Ahn JC, Mathiyalagan R, Nahar J, Ramadhania ZM, Kong BM, Lee DW, Choi SK, Lee CS, Boopathi V, Yang DU, Kim BY, Park H, Yang DC, Kang SC. Transcriptome expression profile of compound-K-enriched red ginseng extract (DDK-401) in Korean volunteers and its apoptotic properties. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:999192. [PMID: 36532751 PMCID: PMC9751427 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.999192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Ginseng and ginsenosides have been reported to have various pharmacological effects, but their efficacies depend on intestinal absorption. Compound K (CK) is gaining prominence for its biological and pharmaceutical properties. In this study, CK-enriched fermented red ginseng extract (DDK-401) was prepared by enzymatic reactions. To examine its pharmacokinetics, a randomized, single-dose, two-sequence, crossover study was performed with eleven healthy Korean male and female volunteers. The volunteers were assigned to take a single oral dose of one of two extracts, DDK-401 or common red ginseng extract (DDK-204), during the initial period. After a 7-day washout, they received the other extract. The pharmacokinetics of DDK-401 showed that its maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) occurred at 184.8 ± 39.64 ng/mL, Tmax was at 2.4 h, and AUC0-12h was 920.3 ± 194.70 ng h/mL, which were all better than those of DDK-204. The maximum CK absorption in the female volunteers was higher than that in the male volunteers. The differentially expressed genes from the male and female groups were subjected to a KEGG pathway analysis, which showed results in the cell death pathway, such as apoptosis and necroptosis. In cytotoxicity tests, DDK-401 and DDK-204 were not particularly toxic to normal (HaCaT) cells, but at a concentration of 250 μg/mL, DDK-401 had a much higher toxicity to human lung cancer (A549) cells than DDK-204. DDK-401 also showed a stronger antioxidant capacity than DDK-204 in both the DPPH and potassium ferricyanide reducing power assays. DDK-401 reduced the reactive oxygen species production in HaCaT cells with induced oxidative stress and led to apoptosis in the A549 cells. In the mRNA sequence analysis, a signaling pathway with selected marker genes was assessed by RT-PCR. In the HaCaT cells, DDK-401 and DDK-204 did not regulate FOXO3, TLR4, MMP-9, or p38 expression; however, in the A549 cells, DDK-401 downregulated the expressions of MMP9 and TLR4 as well as upregulated the expressions of the p38 and caspase-8 genes compared to DDK-204. These results suggest that DDK-401 could act as a molecular switch for these two cellular processes in response to cell damage signaling and that it could be a potential candidate for further evaluations in health promotion studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Chan Ahn
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, South Korea
| | - Ramya Mathiyalagan
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, South Korea
| | - Jinnatun Nahar
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, South Korea
| | - Zelika Mega Ramadhania
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, South Korea
| | - Byoung Man Kong
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, South Korea
| | | | - Sung Keun Choi
- Daedong Korea Ginseng Co., Ltd., Geumsan-gun, South Korea
| | - Chang Soon Lee
- Daedong Korea Ginseng Co., Ltd., Geumsan-gun, South Korea
| | - Vinothini Boopathi
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, South Korea
| | | | - Bo Yeon Kim
- Exercise Nutrition & Biochemistry Lab, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, South Korea
| | - Hyon Park
- Exercise Nutrition & Biochemistry Lab, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, South Korea
| | - Deok Chun Yang
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, South Korea
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, South Korea
| | - Se Chan Kang
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, South Korea
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Shifeng P, Boopathi V, Murugesan M, Mathiyalagan R, Ahn J, Xiaolin C, Yang DU, Kwak GY, Kong BM, Yang DC, Kang SC, Hao Z. Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation Studies of Ginsenosides with SARS-CoV-2 Host and Viral Entry Protein Targets. Nat Prod Commun 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x221134331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the contemporary advancements in the field of science and medicine, combating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is extremely challenging in many aspects as the virus keeps spreading and mutating rapidly. As there is no effective and conclusive drug therapy to date, it is crucial to explore plant-based natural compounds for their potential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). Recent research highly focuses on screening various phytochemicals to elucidate their anti-viral efficacy. However, very few studies were published investigating the anti-viral efficacy of ginsenosides. Hence, the main aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory potential of the available 122 ginsenosides from Panax ginseng against SARS-CoV-2-related proteins using a molecular docking and molecular dynamics approach. The major bioactive compounds “ginsenosides” of P. ginseng were docked to six vital SAR-CoV-2 host entry-related proteins such as ACE2, Spike RBD, ACE2 and Spike RBD complex, Spike (pre-fused), Spike (post-fused), and HR domain, with lowest binding energies of −9.5 kcal/mol, −8.1 kcal/mol, −10.4 kcal/mol, −10.4 kcal/mol, −9.3 kcal/mol, and −8.2 kcal/mol, respectively. Almost all the ginsenosides have shown low binding energies and were found to be favourable for efficient docking and resultant inhibition of the viral proteins. However, ACE2 has shown the highest interaction capability. Hence, the top five ginsenosides with the highest binding energy with ACE2 were subjected to MD, post MD analysis, and MM/PBSA calculations. MD simulation results have shown higher stability, flexibility, and mobility of the selected compounds. Additionally, MM-PBSA also affirms the docking results. The results obtained from this study have provided highly potential candidates for developing natural inhibitors against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pang Shifeng
- Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences of CAAS, Changchun 130112, China
| | - Vinothini Boopathi
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin si, Gyeonggi 17104, Korea
| | - Mohanapriya Murugesan
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin si, Gyeonggi 17104, Korea
| | - Ramya Mathiyalagan
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin si, Gyeonggi 17104, Korea
| | - JongChan Ahn
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin si, Gyeonggi 17104, Korea
| | - Chen Xiaolin
- Ginseng Antler Office of Jilin Province (TCM Development Centre of Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jilin Provincial), Changchun 130033, China
| | - Dong-Uk Yang
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin si, Gyeonggi 17104, Korea
| | - Gi-Young Kwak
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoung Man Kong
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Deok-Chun Yang
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin si, Gyeonggi 17104, Korea
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Chan Kang
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin si, Gyeonggi 17104, Korea
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhang Hao
- Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences of CAAS, Changchun 130112, China
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DI P, YAN Y, WANG P, YAN M, WANG YP, HUANG LQ. Integrative SMRT sequencing and ginsenoside profiling analysis provide insights into the biosynthesis of ginsenoside in Panax quinquefolium. Chin J Nat Med 2022; 20:614-626. [DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(22)60198-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Xu X, Jia L, Ma X, Li H, Sun C. Application Potential of Plant-Derived Medicines in Prevention and Treatment of Platinum-Induced Peripheral Neurotoxicity. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:792331. [PMID: 35095502 PMCID: PMC8793340 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.792331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
As observed with other chemotherapeutic agents, the clinical application of platinum agents is a double-edged sword. Platinum-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) is a common adverse event that negatively affects clinical outcomes and patients’ quality of life. Considering the unavailability of effective established agents for preventing or treating PIPN and the increasing population of cancer survivors, the identification and development of novel, effective interventions are the need of the hour. Plant-derived medicines, recognized as ideal agents, can not only help improve PIPN without affecting chemotherapy efficacy, but may also produce synergy. In this review, we present a brief summary of the mechanisms of platinum agents and PIPN and then focus on exploring the preventive or curative effects and underlying mechanisms of plant-derived medicines, which have been evaluated under platinum-induced neurotoxicity conditions. We identified 11 plant extracts as well as 17 plant secondary metabolites, and four polyherbal preparations. Their effects against PIPN are focused on oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, glial activation and inflammation response, and ion channel dysfunction. Also, ten clinical trials have assessed the effect of herbal products in patients with PIPN. The understanding of the molecular mechanism is still limited, the quality of clinical trials need to be further improved, and in terms of their efficacy, safety, and cost effectiveness studies have not provided sufficient evidence to establish a standard practice. But plant-derived medicines have been found to be invaluable sources for the development of natural agents with beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of PIPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Xu
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Liqun Jia
- Oncology Department of Integrative Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoran Ma
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Huayao Li
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Changgang Sun
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China.,Qingdao Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, China.,College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
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Chu LL, Bae H. Bacterial endophytes from ginseng and their biotechnological application. J Ginseng Res 2022; 46:1-10. [PMID: 35035239 PMCID: PMC8753428 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ginseng has been well-known as a medicinal plant for thousands of years. Bacterial endophytes ubiquitously colonize the inside tissues of ginseng without any disease symptoms. The identification of bacterial endophytes is conducted through either the internal transcribed spacer region combined with ribosomal sequences or metagenomics. Bacterial endophyte communities differ in their diversity and composition profile, depending on the geographical location, cultivation condition, and tissue, age, and species of ginseng. Bacterial endophytes have a significant effect on the growth of ginseng through indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore production, phosphate solubilization, and nitrogen fixation. Moreover, bacterial endophytes can protect ginseng by acting as biocontrol agents. Interestingly, bacterial endophytes isolated from Panax species have the potential to produce ginsenosides and bioactive metabolites, which can be used in the production of food and medicine. The ability of bacterial endophytes to transform major ginsenosides into minor ginsenosides using β-glucosidase is gaining increasing attention as a promising biotechnology. Recently, metabolic engineering has accelerated the possibilities for potential applications of bacterial endophytes in producing beneficial secondary metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luan Luong Chu
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Phenikaa University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Bioresource Research Center, Phenikaa University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Hanhong Bae
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
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Liu C, Ma X, Zhuang J, Liu L, Sun C. Cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin-based cancer treatment: What is the protective cognition that phytochemicals provide us? Pharmacol Res 2020; 160:105062. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Mathiyalagan R, Wang C, Kim YJ, Castro-Aceituno V, Ahn S, Subramaniyam S, Simu SY, Jiménez-Pérez ZE, Yang DC, Jung SK. Preparation of Polyethylene Glycol-Ginsenoside Rh1 and Rh2 Conjugates and Their Efficacy against Lung Cancer and Inflammation. Molecules 2019; 24:E4367. [PMID: 31795352 PMCID: PMC6930446 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24234367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Low solubility and tumor-targeted delivery of ginsenosides to avoid off-target cytotoxicity are challenges for clinical trials. In the present study, we report on a methodology for the synthesis of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-ginsenoside conjugates through a hydrolysable ester bond using the hydrophilic polymer polyethylene glycol with the hydrophobic ginsenosides Rh1 and Rh2 to enhance water solubility and passive targeted delivery. The resulting conjugates were characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). 1H NMR revealed that the C-6 and C-3 sugar hydroxyl groups of Rh1 and Rh2 were esterified. The conjugates showed spherical shapes that were monitored by field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM), and the average sizes of the particles were 62 ± 5.72 nm and 134 ± 8.75 nm for PEG-Rh1and PEG-Rh2, respectively (measured using a particle size analyzer). Owing to the hydrophilic enhancing properties of PEG, PEG-Rh1 and PEG-Rh2 solubility was greatly enhanced compared to Rh1 and Rh2 alone. The release rates of Rh1 and Rh2 were increased in lower pH conditions (pH 5.0), that for pathophysiological sites as well as for intracellular endosomes and lysosomes, compared to normal-cell pH conditions (pH 7.4). In vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that the PEG-Rh1conjugates had greater anticancer activity in a human non-small cell lung cancer cell line (A549) compared to Rh1 alone, whereas PEG-Rh2 showed lower cytotoxicity in lung cancer cells. On the other hand, both PEG-Rh1 and PEG-Rh2 showed non-cytotoxicity in a nondiseased murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) compared to free Rh1 and Rh2, but PEG-Rh2 exhibited increased efficacy against inflammation by greatly inhibiting nitric oxide production. Thus, the overall conclusion of our study is that PEG conjugation promotes the properties of Rh1 for anticancer and Rh2 for inflammation treatments. Depends on the disease models, they could be potential drug candidates for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Mathiyalagan
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; (R.M.); (S.Y.S.); (Z.E.J.-P.)
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; (C.W.); (Y.J.K.); (V.C.-A.); (S.A.); (S.S.)
- Institute of Biomedical Research, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, Shandong, China
| | - Yeon Ju Kim
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; (C.W.); (Y.J.K.); (V.C.-A.); (S.A.); (S.S.)
| | - Verónica Castro-Aceituno
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; (C.W.); (Y.J.K.); (V.C.-A.); (S.A.); (S.S.)
| | - Sungeun Ahn
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; (C.W.); (Y.J.K.); (V.C.-A.); (S.A.); (S.S.)
| | - Sathiyamoorthy Subramaniyam
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; (C.W.); (Y.J.K.); (V.C.-A.); (S.A.); (S.S.)
- Department of Biotechnology, Dr.N.G.P., Arts and Science College, Coimbatore 641048, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Shakina Yesmin Simu
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; (R.M.); (S.Y.S.); (Z.E.J.-P.)
| | - Zuly Elizabeth Jiménez-Pérez
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; (R.M.); (S.Y.S.); (Z.E.J.-P.)
| | - Deok Chun Yang
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; (R.M.); (S.Y.S.); (Z.E.J.-P.)
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; (C.W.); (Y.J.K.); (V.C.-A.); (S.A.); (S.S.)
| | - Seok-Kyu Jung
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea; (C.W.); (Y.J.K.); (V.C.-A.); (S.A.); (S.S.)
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