Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on radiation-induced bone loss in C3H/HeN mice

The protective effects of ginseng on x-irradiation-induced intestinal damage in rats

Although radiotherapy is widely employed in the treatment of various malignancies in oncology patients, its use is limited by the toxic effects it causes in surrounding tissues, including the gastrointestinal system. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a traditional drug reported to possess antioxidant and restorative properties in various studies. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of KRG against radiation-associated small intestinal damage. Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into three groups. No procedure was performed on Group 1 (control) during the experiment, while Group 2 (x-irradiation) was exposed to radiation only. Group 3 (x-irradiation + ginseng) received ginseng via the intraperitoneal route for a week prior to x-irradiation. The rats were killed 24 h after radiation. Small intestinal tissues were evaluated using histochemical and biochemical methods. An increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and a decrease in glutathione (GSH) were observed in the x-irradiation group compared to the control group. KRG caused a decrease in MDA and caspase-3 activity and an increase in GSH. Our findings show that it can prevent damage and apoptotic cell death caused by x-irradiation in intestinal tissue and can therefore play a protective role against intestinal injury in patients receiving radiotherapy.

Korean Red Ginseng extract treatment prevents post-antibiotic dysbiosis-induced bone loss in mice

Background

The intestinal microbiota is an important regulator of bone health. In previous studies we have shown that intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, induced by treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics (ABX) followed by natural repopulation, results in gut barrier dysfunction and bone loss. We have also shown that treatment with probiotics or a gut barrier enhancer can inhibit dysbiosis-induced bone loss. The overall goal of this project was to test the effect of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) extract on bone and gut health using antibiotics (ABX) dysbiosis-induced bone loss model in mice.

Methods

Adult male mice (Balb/C, 12-week old) were administered broad spectrum antibiotics (ampicillin and neomycin) for 2 weeks followed by 4 weeks of natural repopulation. During this 4-week period, mice were treated with vehicle (water) or KRG extract. Other controls included mice that did not receive either antibiotics or KRG extract and mice that received only KRG extract. At the end of the experiments, we assessed various parameters to assess bone, microbiota and in vivo intestinal permeability.

Results

Consistent with our previous results, post-ABX- dysbiosis led to significant bone loss. Importantly, this was associated with a decrease in gut microbiota alpha diversity and an increase in intestinal permeability. All these effects including bone loss were prevented by KRG extract treatment. Furthermore, our studies identified multiple genera including Lactobacillus and rc4-4 as well as Alistipes finegoldii to be potentially linked to the effect of KRG extract on gut-bone axis.

Conclusion

Together, our results demonstrate that KRG extract regulates the gut-bone axis and is effective at preventing dysbiosis-induced bone loss in mice.

Tradition to Pathogenesis: A Novel Hypothesis for Elucidating the Pathogenesis of Diseases Based on the Traditional Use of Medicinal Plants

Traditional medicines embody knowledge on medicinal plants that has been accumulated through cultural evolution over millennia. In the latter half of the 20th century, two approaches to medicinal plant research have been established: the "Bench to Bedside" and the "Bedside to Bench" approaches which serve primarily for the development of more efficient therapeutics. Here, we propose a third, novel approach: from "Tradition to Pathogenesis" which aims to understand the pathogenesis of diseases based on the cultural evolution of their respective empirical treatments. We analyse multiple examples of diseases where the acting mechanism of traditional treatments across multiple cultures points to the pathogenesis of the respective disease. E.g., many cultures traditionally treat rheumatism with anti-bacterial botanical drugs, which is at odds with our current understanding that rheumatism is an aseptic inflammation. Furthermore, gastric ailments have traditionally been treated with anti-infectious botanical drugs indicating local infections, as demonstrated by the discovery of Helicobacter pylori as a common cause of gastric ulcer. Understanding traditional treatments can thus help to elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease.

Ginsenoside Rg3 Attenuates Aluminum-Induced Osteoporosis Through Regulation of Oxidative Stress and Bone Metabolism in Rats

Aluminum (Al)-induced bone metabolism disorder is a primary cause of osteoporosis. Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) has demonstrated therapeutic properties in the treatment of osteoporosis. The present study aimed to identify potential bone protection mechanisms of Rg3 against Al-induced osteoporosis in rats. In this study, forty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into groups in which they were treated with AlCl₃ (64 mg/kg/day) and/or Rg3 (20 mg/kg/day). AlCl₃ was given orally to rats for 120 days, and from the 91st day, treated orally with Rg3 for 30 days. Rg3 attenuated AlCl₃-induced accumulation of Al by decreasing the bone mineral density in the lumbar spines, femoral metaphysis, and tibia, and inhibited AlCl₃-induced oxidative stress in rat bone by decreasing the levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, while increasing glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity. Rg3 facilitated bone formation by increasing the concentration of calcium, phosphorus, amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen, and carboxyl-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen, bone alkaline phosphatase activity in serum, and type I collagen, osteocalcin, and osteopontin protein expressions. Rg3 inhibited bone resorption by decreasing the content of N-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen, C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b activity in serum. Rg3 promoted the mRNA expression of growth regulation factors by increasing transforming growth factor-β1, bone morphogenetic protein-2, insulin-like growth factor I, and core-binding factor α1. The results demonstrate that Rg3 can significantly attenuate Al accumulation, facilitate bone formation, inhibit bone resorption, resist oxidative stress, and promote the expression of factors that regulate growth. The results indicate that Rg3 is effective in alleviating AlCl₃-induced osteoporosis.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of the protective effects of Korean Red Ginseng against the influence of bisphenol A in the liver and uterus of ovariectomized mice

Background

Bisphenol A (BPA), known as an endocrine disruptor, is widely used in the world. BPA is reported to cause inflammation-related diseases. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has been used safely in human for a long time for the treatment of diverse diseases. KRG has been reported of its mitigating effect on menopausal symptoms and suppress adipose inflammation. Here, we investigate the protective effect of orally administered KRG on the impacts of BPA in the liver and uterus of menopausal mice model.

Methods

The transcriptome analysis for the effects of BPA on mice liver was evaluated by Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database–based data (GSE26728). In vivo assay to evaluate the protective effect of KRG on BPA impact in ovariectomized (OVX) mice were designed and analyzed by RNA sequencing.

Results

We first demonstrated that BPA induced 12 kinds of gene set in the liver of normal mice. The administration of BPA and KRG did not change body, liver, and uterine weight in OVX mice. KRG downregulated BPA-induced inflammatory response and chemotaxis-related gene expression. Several gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA)–derived inflammatory response genes increased by BPA were inhibited by KRG in OVX mice.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that BPA has commonly influenced inflammatory response effects on both normal and OVX mice. KRG protects against BPA impact of inflammatory response and chemotaxis in OVX mouse models. Our comparative analysis will provide new insight into the efficacy of KRG on endocrine disrupting chemicals and OVX mouse.

Protective Effect of Ginseng on Salivary Dysfunction Following Radioiodine Therapy in a Mouse Model

BACKGROUND

Following radioiodine (RI) therapy, oxidative stress is a putative damage mechanism resulting in salivary gland (SG) dysfunction. Since ginseng is a known anti-oxidative herb, we examined the SG radioprotective effects of Korea red ginseng (KRG) in a mouse model, when administered prior to RI.

METHODS

Four-week-old mice (n = 60) were divided into four groups: (1) normal control, (2) RI only treated (0.01 mCi/g, orally), (3) KRG administered (0.2 mg/g, intraperitoneal injection) 0.5 and 24 hours before RI, and (4) amifostine-treated group (0.2 mg/g, intraperitoneally) 0.5 hour before RI. The salivary lag times and flow rates were assessed, and sampled tissues were subjected to histologic examinations including hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining. Apoptosis was examined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUDP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and excretion changes in salivary ^99mTc pertechnetate were evaluated by single-photon emission computed tomography.

RESULTS

The body weight of the KRG group was similar to the control group. Salivary lag times and flow rates in the RI + KRG group were faster than in the RI only group. There was no significant intergroup difference in the SG weight. The RI + KRG group exhibited more mucin-containing parenchyma and less fibrotic tissues than the RI only group. Salivary epithelial (aquaporin 5) and myoepithelial (smooth muscle actin) cells of the RI + KRG group were protected from radiation damage. Low 8-OhdG (oxidative stress biomarker) and high superoxide dismutase 2 (reactive oxygen species scavenger) immunostaining reactivity was detected in the RI + KRG group when compared with the RI only group. Fewer apoptotic cells were observed in the RI + KRG or amifostine group compared to the RI only group in the TUNEL assay. The ^99mTc pertechnetate excretion level recovered in the KRG group.

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment with KRG before RI therapy is potentially beneficial in protecting against RI-induced salivary dysfunction.

Ginsenoside Re Promotes Osteoblast Differentiation in Mouse Osteoblast Precursor MC3T3-E1 Cells and a Zebrafish Model

Bone homeostasis is tightly regulated to balance bone formation and bone resorption. Many anabolic drugs are used as bone-targeted therapeutic agents for the promotion of osteoblast-mediated bone formation or inhibition of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Previous studies showed that ginsenoside Re has the effect of the suppression of osteoclast differentiation in mouse bone-marrow derived macrophages and zebrafish. Herein, we investigated whether ginsenoside Re affects osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in in vitro and in vivo models. Mouse osteoblast precursor MC3T3-E1 cells were used to investigate cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and mineralization. In addition, we examined osteoblastic signaling pathways. Ginsenoside Re affected ALP activity without cytotoxicity, and we also observed the stimulation of osteoblast differentiation through the activation of osteoblast markers including runt-related transcription factor 2, type 1 collagen, ALP, and osteocalcin in MC3T3-E1 cells. Moreover, Alizarin red S staining indicated that ginsenoside Re increased osteoblast mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells and zebrafish scales compared to controls. These results suggest that ginsenoside Re promotes osteoblast differentiation as well as inhibits osteoclast differentiation, and it could be a potential therapeutic agent for bone diseases.

Antiosteoporosis Activity of New Oriental Medicine Preparation (Kyungokgo Mixed with Water Extract of Hovenia dulcis) on the Ovariectomized Mice

Protective effect of new oriental medicine (Kyungokgo mixed with water extract of Hovenia dulcis, KOGHD) was assessed on the bone loss induced mice by ovariectomy. In the in vivo experiments, antiosteoporosis effect of KOGHD was investigated using ovariectomized osteoporosis mice model. After 6 weeks of treatment, the mice were euthanized, and the effect of Kyungokgo (KOG) and KOGHD on body weight, spleen weigh, thymus weight, uterine weight, serum biochemical indicators, bone weight and length, immune cell population, bone morphometric parameters, and histological stains was observed. Our results showed that KOGHD prevented the deterioration of trabecular microarchitecture caused by ovariectomy, which were accompanied by the lower levels of bone turnover markers and immune cell population as evidenced by the inhibition of RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation without cytotoxic effect on bone marrow derived macrophages (BMMs). Therefore, these results suggest that the Hovenia dulcis (HD) supplementation in the KOG may also prevent and treat bone loss.

Korean Red Ginseng protects dopaminergic neurons by suppressing the cleavage of p35 to p25 in a Parkinson's disease mouse model

Background

Ginseng is known to have antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. The present study investigated a possible role of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in suppressing dopaminergic neuronal cell death and the cleavage of p35 to p25 in the substantia nigra (SN) and striatum (ST) using a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease mouse model.

Methods

Ten-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with 30 mg/kg of MPTP at 24-h intervals for 5 d, and then administered KRG (1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, or 100 mg/kg) once a day for 12 consecutive days from the first injection. Pole tests were performed to assess the motor function of the mice, dopaminergic neuronal survival in the SN and ST was evaluated using tyrosine hydroxylase-immunohistochemistry, and the expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), p35, and p25 in the SN and ST were measured using Western blotting.

Results

MPTP administration caused behavioral impairment, dopaminergic neuronal death, increased Cdk5 and p25 expression, and decreased p35 expression in the nigrostriatal system of mice, whereas KRG dose-dependently alleviated these MPTP-induced changes.

Conclusion

These results indicate that KRG can inhibit MPTP-induced dopaminergic neuronal death and suppress the cleavage of p35 to p25 in the SN and the ST, suggesting a possible role for KRG in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.