Antiobesity Effect of Oil Extract of Ginseng

Development of Highly Hygienic Textile by Coating with Encapsulated Ginseng Oil

There is a growing demand for the development of functional textile sanitary products to protect the human body from viruses, bacteria, and other harmful external substances. However, common processing methods for textile functionalization result in poor durability or have a highly limited material scope. A solution for this is the encapsulation of the functional material to provide stable protection and controlled release to reveal functionality in the fabric. However, many chemicals used for such purposes can cause problems for both human beings and the environment; therefore, attention is being shifted to natural products such as essential oils and seed oils. In this study, we used in situ polymerization to encapsulate ginseng oil, which has antibacterial, deodorizing, moisturizing, and antioxidant functions, as the core material of the microcapsules. The manufactured microcapsules were spherical with smooth surfaces, had an average size of 3.98 um, and exhibited excellent thermal stability. Processing the synthesized microcapsules into nylon/polyurethane fabric resulted in excellent functionalities, with the treated fabric exhibiting a 99.9% antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae and a 99% deodorizing effect. Therefore, the developed method is expected to show great potential for the production of highly hygienic textiles for use in various industries.

Characteristics of ginsenoside Rd-induced effects on rat intestinal contractility with irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common refractory disease. Its exact pathophysiological mechanism is still unclear. Despite the availability of plentiful drugs to control IBS, most patients do not respond well. Ginsenoside Rd is one of the major active components of Panax ginseng, which has been verified to produce various pharmacological actions. However, the role of ginsenoside Rd in modulating smooth muscle contractility is still undefined. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of ginsenoside Rd on intestinal contractility and related mechanisms in IBS.

Recent progress in polysaccharides from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (P. ginseng) has a long history of medicinal use and can treat a variety of diseases. P. ginseng contains a variety of active ingredients, such as saponins, polypeptides, volatile oils, and polysaccharides. Among them, saponins have always been considered as the main components responsible for its pharmacological activities. However, more and more studies have shown that polysaccharides play an indispensable role in the medicinal value of ginseng. Modern biological and medical studies have found that ginseng polysaccharides have complex structural characteristics and diverse biological activities, such as immune regulation, anti-tumor, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and anti-radiation functions, among others. Additionally, the structural characteristics of ginseng polysaccharides are closely related to their activity. In this review, the research background, extraction, purification, structural characteristics, and biological activities of ginseng polysaccharides from different parts of P. ginseng (roots, flowers stems and leaves, and berries) under different growth conditions (artificially cultivated ginseng, mountain ginseng, and wild ginseng) are summarized. The structural characteristics of purified polysaccharides were reviewed. Meanwhile, their biological activities were introduced, and some possible mechanisms were listed. Furthermore, the structure-activity relationship of polysaccharides was discussed. Some research perspectives for the study of ginseng polysaccharides were also provided.

Efficacy of Panax ginseng supplementation on blood lipid profile. A meta-analysis and systematic review of clinical randomized trials

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ginseng is a widely used ingredient in several traditional Chinese medicine formulation, mainly as a prophylactic and restorative agent. Ginseng's Chinese traditional formulations have shown protective effects against atherosclerosis, suggesting that ginseng may be useful for the treatment of metabolic disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate whether the supplementation with Panax ginseng (PG) has an effect on blood lipid profile in humans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A meta-analysis and a systematic review were conducted to evaluate the effects of PG on blood lipid profile.

RESULTS

A total of 18 studies met the inclusion criteria, from which 10 studies were performed in volunteers with at least one component of metabolic syndrome, 3 in postmenopausal women, 2 in healthy volunteers and 3 with other types of inclusion criteria. The doses employed ranged from 0.2 to 20 g/day (median 3 g/day, 95% CI 1.7, 5.8), while the treatment time ranged from 2 to 12 weeks (median 8 weeks, 95% CI 6, 9). Few studies reported the composition of the PG extract employed. The main ginsenosides reported were Rb1 and Rg1 (content ranging from Rb1 0.023-6.44 mg/g and Rg1 0.028-3.21 mg/g). Significant modification in blood profile was described in 7 studies, in which 5 studies observed a reduction in total cholesterol, 4 in LDL-cholesterol, and 2 in triacylglycerides. The meta-analysis of 10 studies in volunteers with parameters related with metabolic syndrome describes that PG may induce a mean difference compared to a placebo of -2.30 (95% CI -3.79,-0.80) and -1.47 (95% CI -1.90,-1.05) mg/dL per g/day of PG in the levels of total and LDL-cholesterol, with no significant effects in HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerides.

CONCLUSIONS

PG extract may induce an improvement in blood lipid profile mainly by a reduction in total and LDL-cholesterol levels.

Effects of Rudgea viburnoides (Cham.) Benth. (Rubiaceae) Leaves on Metabolic and Inflammatory Dysfunction Induced by High Refined Carbohydrate-Containing Diet in Mice

Obesity is characterized by a chronic low-grade inflammation, which has been shown to be involved in the development of comorbidities such as insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and liver damage. Phytochemicals found in plants may modulate inflammation and improve health problems associated with the excess of adiposity. Teas prepared with many plants are used in Brazil for losing weight. In this study, we evaluated the potential of Rudgea viburnoides (Cham.) Benth. on metabolic and inflammatory disarrangement induced by high refined carbohydrate (HC)-containing diet in mice. BALB/c mice were fed with chow or HC diet for 8 weeks. After this period, the HC diet was supplemented for 4 weeks with three different doses, 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg, of crude extract of R. viburnoides. Ethanol extract at the lowest dose (40 mg/kg) reduced adipocyte size, and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. A lower concentration of proinflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and CCL2 in the liver and adipose tissue, and reduced levels of cholesterol and resistin in the serum were also observed. High concentrations of chlorogenic and caffeic acids, and the flavonoids, rutin and quercetin, were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector. Therefore, these data confirm the potential of R. viburnoides leaves as nutraceutical agents for the treatment of metabolic and inflammatory changes associated with obesity.

Antioxidative and Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of Lemon Essential Oil in Hypercholesterolemia-Induced Rabbits

The cholesterol-lowering and anti-atherogenic effects of lemon essential oil (LEO) were investigated and compared with the effects of limonene. Owing to their volatility, both LEO and limonene were microencapsulated before preparation of the diet (20%, w/w). Hypercholesterolemia-induced rabbits were divided into 3 groups based on plasma total cholesterol (TC) levels and fed coating matrix (control group), LEO (LEO group), or limonene (Limonene group) for 8 weeks. LEO dose-dependently inhibited low-density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro. Plasma TC levels were the lowest in the LEO group (P<0.05). Erythrocytes in the LEO group had a normal disc shape, whereas the erythrocytes in the limonene and control groups were aggregated and star-shaped, respectively. The aortic intima thickness was thinnest in the LEO group followed by the control and limonene groups. Plasma TC lowering and anti-atherogenic effects of LEO were greater than limonene, suggesting that other bioactive compounds besides limonene in LEO might contribute to these effects. The bioactive compounds in LEO were limonene (67.57%), β-pinene (10.00%), and γ-terpinene (9.95%). In addition, sabinene, α-pinene, myrcene, and geranial were also present but the amount was in the range of 1~2%. Several bioactive compounds were also detected. In conclusion, LEO had beneficial effects on hypercholesterolemia due to its antioxidative and cholesterol lowering effects.

Protective Effects of Red Ginseng Oil against Aβ25-35-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis and Inflammation in PC12 Cells

One of pathological characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD), aggregation and deposition of β amyloid (Aβ), has been accepted as a potent activator of neuronal cell death. Red ginseng is well-known for various pharmacological activities, but most studies have been focused on red ginseng water extract (RGW), which has resulted in the conception of the present study of red ginseng oil (RGO) against Aβ_25-35-induced neurotoxicity. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction by Aβ were verified and the underlying mechanism by which RGO inhibited neuronal cell death, mitochondria dysfunction and NF-κB pathway related protein markers were evaluated. RGO attenuated Aβ_25-35-induced apoptosis, not only by inhibiting calcium influx, but also by reducing mitochondrial membrane potential loss. RGO significantly decreased Bax, whereas increased Bcl-2 and inactivated of caspase-3 and -9 and PARP-1 stimulated by Aβ_25-35. Anti-neuroinflammatory effect of RGO was demonstrated by downregulating c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38, resulting in inhibiting of the NF-κB pathway and thereby suppressing the expressions of pro-inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The present study revealed that RGO is a potential natural resource of the functional foods industry as well as a promising candidate of multi-target neuronal protective agent for the prevention of AD.

Effects of ginsenosides on rat jejunal contractility

CONTEXT

Ginsenosides are primary active ingredients of ginseng, which are believed to have various health benefits. It is found that the biotransformation of ginsenosides mainly takes place in the gastrointestinal tract and the information about ginsenosides-exerted effects on intestinal contractility is not sufficient.

AIMS

The present study proposed that ginsenosides could exert stimulatory or inhibitory effects on intestinal motility depending on the assay condition-related intestinal contractile states and was to characterize the effects of ginsenosides on intestinal motility.

METHODS

Jejunal contractility determination, Western blotting analysis, and real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to test the effects of total ginsenosides isolated from Panax ginseng C. A. Mey (Araliaceae) root.

RESULTS

The results showed that ginsenosides at the fixed concentration of 20 mg/L exerted bidirectional regulation (BR) on the contractility of isolated jejunal segment (IJS), depending on the contractile states. The contractility of IJS was increased by ginsenosides in low contractile states, which were correlated to the cholinergic activation, and the contractility of IJS was decreased by ginsenosides in high contractile states, which were correlated to the adrenergic activation and nitric oxide related mechanisms. Ginsenosides-induced BR was abolished in the absence of Ca(2+) or by using tetrodotoxin, implicating the requirement of Ca(2+) and the enteric nervous system. Effects of ginsenosides on myosin light chain phosphorylation and the mRNA expression of myosin light chain kinase were also bidirectional.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Results suggest that ginsenosides may have the potential clinical implication for reliving the symptoms of alternative hypo- and hyper-intestinal motility.

Red ginseng marc oil inhibits iNOS and COX-2 via NFκB and p38 pathways in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of red ginseng marc oil (RMO) in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. RMO was prepared by a supercritical CO₂ extraction of waste product generated after hot water extraction of red ginseng. RMO significantly inhibited the production of oxidative stress molecules such as nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 cells. Levels of inflammatory targets including prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were also reduced after the treatment with RMO. In addition, RMO diminished the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase 2 at both mRNA and protein levels. Blockade of nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) was also observed after the treatment of RMO. Furthermore, RMO decreased the phosphorylations of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and its upstream kinases including MAPK kinases 3/6 (MKK3/6) and TAK 1 (TGF-β activated kinase 1). Gas chromatographic analysis on RMO revealed that RMO contained about 10% phytosterols including sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol which may contribute to the anti-inflammatory properties of RMO. Taken together, these results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of RMO in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages could be associated with the inhibition of NFκB transcriptional activity, possibly via blocking the p38 MAPK pathway.

Biochemical and histological impact of Vernonia amygdalina supplemented diet in obese rats

This study was carried out to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of Vernonia amygdalina Del. (VA) supplemented diet. VA leaf powder was fed at 5% and 15% to diet-induced obese rats for 4 weeks and its effect compared with orlistat (5.14 mg/kg p.o.), an anti-obesity drug. Food intake, body and organ weights, total body fat, some lipid components and amino transaminase activities in serum, hepatocytes and brain; as well as serum glucose, were measured during or at end of the study. Result showed respective decrease of 12.78% and 38.51% in body weight gain, of VA fed rats against 17.45% of orlistat at end of study (P < 0.05); but with no effect on food intake. Total body fat was lowered by 28.04% and 30.02% vs. obese control rats (CDC) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, serum triacylglycerol (TG), serum and brain total cholesterol (TCHOL), were down regulated at 15% VA supplementation (P < 0.05). Serum glucose which increased in obese rats by 46.26% (P < 0.05) vs. NC, indicating intolerance, was restored by VA (38.75% and 34.65%) and orlistat (31.80%) vs. CDC (P < 0.05). VA diet also exerted hepato-protection, via lowering serum alanine amino transaminase (ALT) (41.35% and 27.13%) and aspartate amino transaminase (AST) (17.09% and 43.21%) activities (P < 0.05). Orlistat had no effect on these enzymes. Histology of adipose tissue corroborated the changes on total body fat. We concluded that, diet supplemented with VA can attenuate dietary obesity as well as ameliorates the potential risks of hepato-toxicity and glucose intolerance associated with obesity.

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of the red ginseng essential oil in H(2)O(2)-treated hepG2 cells and CCl(4)-treated mice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant mechanisms of red ginseng essential oil (REO) in cells as well as in an animal model. REO was prepared by a supercritical CO(2) extraction of waste-products generated after hot water extraction of red ginseng. In HepG2 cells, REO diminished the H(2)O(2)-mediated oxidative stress and also restored both the activity and expression of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Administration of REO inhibited the phosphorylation of upstream mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) such as c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and p38. In mice, the CCl(4)-mediated elevation of serum aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase as well as the induction of hepatic lipid peroxidation were decreased by REO administration. REO treatments also resulted in up-regulation of the antioxidant enzyme expression in the liver. Moreover, increased phosphorylations of MAPKs were inhibited after REO administration. Overall, REO seems to protect the liver from oxidative stress through the activation and induction of antioxidant enzymes via inhibition of MAPKs pathways.