• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.7
• /
• pp.1010-1020
• /
• 2022

Objective: The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of maternal undernutrition during late pregnancy on the expressions of genes involved in growth and development in ovine fetal perirenal brown adipose tissue (BAT). Methods: Eighteen ewes with singleton fetuses were allocated to three groups at day 90 of pregnancy: restricted group 1 (RG1, 0.33 MJ metabolisable energy [ME]/kg body weight [BW]^0.75/d, n = 6), restricted group 2 (RG2, 0.18 MJ ME/kg BW^0.75/d, n = 6), and a control group (CG, ad libitum, 0.67 MJ ME/kg BW^0.75/d, n = 6). The fetuses were removed at day 140 of pregnancy. All data were analyzed by using the analysis of variance procedure. Results: The perirenal fat weight (p = 0.0077) and perirenal fat growth rate (p = 0.0074) were reduced in RG2 compared to CG. In fetal perirenal BAT, the protein level of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) (p = 0.0001) was lower in RG1 and RG2 compared with CG and UCP1 mRNA expression (p = 0.0265) was decreased in RG2. The protein level of myogenic factor 5 (Myf5) was also decreased in RG2 (p = 0.0001). In addition, mRNA expressions of CyclinA (p = 0.0109), CyclinB (p = 0.0019), CyclinD (p = 0.0015), cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) (p = 0.0001), E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) (p = 0.0323), E2F4 (p = 0.0101), and E2F5 (p = 0.0018) were lower in RG1 and RG2. There were decreased protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) (p = 0.0043) and mRNA expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBPα) (p = 0.0307) in RG2 and decreased PPARγ mRNA expression (p = 0.0008) and C/EBPα protein expression (p = 0.0015) in both RG2 and RG1. Furthermore, mRNA expression of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) (p = 0.0083) and BMP7 (p = 0.0330) decreased in RG2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor co-activator-1α (PGC-1α) reduced in RG2 and RG1. Conclusion: Our observations support that repression of regulatory factors promoting differentiation and development results in the inhibition of BAT maturation in fetal perirenal fat during late pregnancy with maternal undernutrition.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.524-533
• /
• 2023

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for aging and many diseases, and the disorder of lipid metabolism makes it prominent. This study aims to investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on aging, lipid metabolism and stress resistance Methods: Rg1 was administered to Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) cultured in NGM or GNGM. The lifespan, locomotory activity, lipid accumulation, cold and heat stress resistance and related mRNA expression of the worms were examined. Gene knockout mutants were used to clarify the effect on lipid metabolism of Rg1. GFP-binding mutants were used to observe the changes in protein expression Results: We reported that Rg1 reduced lipid accumulation and improved stress resistance in C. elegans. Rg1 significantly reduced the expression of fatty acid synthesis-related genes and lipid metabolism-related genes in C. elegans. However, Rg1 did not affect the fat storage in fat-5/fat-6 double mutant or nhr-49 mutant. Combined with network pharmacology, we clarified the possible pathways and targets of Rg1 in lipid metabolism. In addition, Rg1-treated C. elegans showed a higher expression of anti-oxidative genes and heat shock proteins, which might contribute to stress resistance Conclusion: Rg1 reduced fat accumulation by regulating lipid metabolism via nhr-49 and enhanced stress resistance by its antioxidant effect in C. elegans.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.23-30
• /
• 2017

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 is a class of steroid glycoside and triterpene saponin in Panax ginseng. Many studies suggest that Rg1 suppresses adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1. However, the detail molecular mechanism of Rg1 on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 is still not fully understood. Methods: 3T3-L1 preadipocyte was used to evaluate the effect of Rg1 on adipocyte development in the differentiation in a stage-dependent manner in vitro. Oil Red O staining and Nile red staining were conducted to measure intracellular lipid accumulation and superoxide production, respectively. We analyzed the protein expression using Western blot in vitro. The zebrafish model was used to investigate whether Rg1 suppresses the early stage of fat accumulation in vivo. Results: Rg1 decreased lipid accumulation in early-stage differentiation of 3T3-L1 compared with intermediate and later stages of adipocyte differentiation. Rg1 dramatically increased CAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein-10 (CHOP10) and subsequently reduced the $C/EBP{\beta}$ transcriptional activity that prohibited the initiation of adipogenic marker expression as well as triglyceride synthase. Rg1 decreased the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and glycogen synthase kinase $3{\beta}$, which are also essential for stimulating the expression of $CEBP{\beta}$. Rg1 also reduced reactive oxygen species production because of the downregulated protein level of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) oxidase 4 (NOX4). While Rg1 increased the endogenous antioxidant enzymes, it also dramatically decreased the accumulation of lipid and triglyceride in high fat diet-induced obese zebrafish. Conclusion: We demonstrated that Rg1 suppresses early-stage differentiation via the activation of CHOP10 and attenuates fat accumulation in vivo. These results indicate that Rg1 might have the potential to reduce body fat accumulation in the early stage of obesity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2013

Objectives : In present study, we investigated the effects of ginsenoside Rg3 on early-stage inflammatory response in spinal cord compression of rodents. Methods : Spinal cord injury(SCI) was induced by a vascular clip method(30 g, 5 min) on the spinal cord of mice. Rg3 was treated orally at 1 hour prior to the SCI induction. Messenger ribonucleic acid(mRNA) expression of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-1${\beta}$(IL-1${\beta}$), interleukin-6(IL-6) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) was measured by the real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Microglia in the spinal cord tissue, neurophils and COX-2 in the peri-lesion and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) expression in the ventral horn of SCI induced rats were measured by immunohistochemical stain. Results : 1. Rg3 significantly reduced the mRNA expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1${\beta}$, and COX-2 in the spinal cord tissue compared with SCI group(p<0.05, p<0.01). 2. Rg3 significantly reduced the total number of activated microglia and proportion of phagocytic form in the total activated microglia compared with SCI group(p<0.05, p<0.01). 3. Rg3 significantly reduced myeloperoxidase(MPO) positive neurophil in the peri-lesion compared with SCI group(p<0.05). 4. Rg3 reduced the COX-2 expression in the tissue and motor neurons compared with SCI group. 5. Rg3 significantly reduced iNOS positive motor neurons in the ventral horn compared with SCI group(p<0.01). Conclusions : In conclusion, we demonstrated at first that treatment of ginsenoside Rg3 could reduce significantly the levels of inflammatory mediators in a spinal cord compression model of rodents. Therefore, these results suggested that ginsenoside Rg3 may be a useful antimiflamatory therapeutic candidate for SCI.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.473-481
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the contents of ginsenosides and physiochemical properties of Panax ginseng after 9 times steaming and drying treatment by using the new auto steamer which is more fast and simple than previous report. In the process of steaming and drying, the content of six major ginsenosides such as Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rb2 and Rd were gradually decreased. On the other hand, the content of seven minor ginsenosides includes Rh1, 20(S)-Rg2, 20(R)-Rg2, 20(S)-Rg3, 20(R)-Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5 were gradually increased. We observed the protopanxadiol ginsenosides such as Rb1, Rb2, Rc and Rd were converted into 20(S)-Rg3, 20(R)-Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5; similarly protopanxatriol ginsenosides of Rg1 and Re were converted into Rh1, 20(S)-Rg2 and 20(R)-Rg2. Based on the result of fresh ginseng, the contents of reducing sugar, acidic polysaccharide and total phenolic compounds were gradually increased and reached to maximum at 7 times repetitive steaming process of the fresh ginseng. Whereas DPPH radical scavenging activities were gradually decreased to 68% at 7 times steaming. New auto 9 repetitive steaming and drying process has similar production with original methods, but content of benzo(a)pyrene were not almost detected comparatively taking less time. The present results suggested that this method is best for the development of value-added ginseng industry related products.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.1021-1027
• /
• 2004

Panax ginseng has been used as a typical tonic medicine in Asian countries, such as Korea, China, and Japan. It has been reported that ginsenoside Rg1 in Panax ginseng increases the proportion of T helper cells in the whole T cells and promotes IL-2 gene expression in murine splenocytes. These studies imply that ginsenoside Rg1 increases the immune activity of CD4+ T cell, however the exact mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 on helper T cell remains to be verified. The present study tried to elucidate the direct effect of Rg1 on helper T cell s activities and its Th1/Th2 lineage development. The results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 had not mitogenic effects on the unstimulated CD4+ T cell, but augmented CD4+ T cell proliferation upon activating with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies in a dose dependent manner. Rg1 also enhanced the expression of cell surface protein CD69 on CD4+ T cell. In Th0 condition, ginsenoside Rg1 increases the expression of IL-2 mRNA, and enhances the expression of IL-4 mRNA on CD4+ T cells, suggesting Rg1 prefer to induce Th2 lineage development. In addition, ginsenoside Rg1 increases IL-4 secreting CD4+ T cell under Th2 skewed condition, while decreases IFN-γ secreting cell in Th1 polarizing condition. Thus, Rg1 enhances Th2 lineage development from naive CD4+ T cell both by increasing Th2 specific cytokine secretion and by repressing Th1 specific cytokine production. Therefore, these results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 might be desirable agent for enhancing CD4+ T cell's activity, as well as the correction of Th1 dominant pathological disorders.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.447-457
• /
• 2022

Notoginsenoside R1 and ginsenoside Rg1 are the main active ingredients of Panax notoginseng, exhibiting anti-fatigue, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and other activities. In a previous study, a GH39 β-xylosidase Xln-DT was responsible for the bioconversion of saponin, a natural active substance with a xylose group, with high selectivity for cleaving the outer xylose moiety of notoginsenoside R1 at the C-6 position, producing ginsenoside Rg1 with potent anti-fatigue activity. The optimal bioconversion temperature, pH, and enzyme dosage were obtained by optimizing the transformation conditions. Under optimal conditions (pH 6.0, 75℃, enzyme dosage 1.0 U/ml), 1.0 g/l of notoginsenoside R1 was converted into 0.86 g/l of ginsenoside Rg1 within 30 min, with a molar conversion rate of approximately 100%. Furthermore, the in vivo anti-fatigue activity of notoginsenoside R1 and ginsenoside Rg1 were compared using a suitable rat model. Compared with the control group, the forced swimming time to exhaustion was prolonged in mice by 17.3% in the Rg1 high group (20 mg/kg·d). Additionally, the levels of hepatic glycogen (69.9-83.3% increase) and muscle glycogen (36.9-93.6% increase) were increased. In the Rg1 group, hemoglobin levels were also distinctly increased by treatment concentrations. Our findings indicate that treatment with ginsenoside Rg1 enhances the anti-fatigue effects. In this study, we reveal a GH39 β-xylosidase displaying excellent hydrolytic activity to produce ginsenoside Rg1 in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.566-571
• /
• 2017

Background: A number of reports have described the protective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the protective mechanisms of Rg1 in AD remain elusive. Methods: To investigate the potential mechanisms of Rg1 in ${\beta}$-amyloid peptide-treated SH-SY5Y cells, a comparative proteomic analysis was performed using stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture combined with nano-LC-MS/MS. Results: We identified a total of 1,149 proteins in three independent experiments. Forty-nine proteins were significantly altered by Rg1 after exposure of the cells to ${\beta}$-amyloid peptides. The protein interaction network analysis showed that these altered proteins were clustered in ribosomal proteins, mitochondria, the actin cytoskeleton, and splicing proteins. Among these proteins, mitochondrial proteins containing HSD17B10, AARS2, TOMM40, VDAC1, COX5A, and NDUFA4 were associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of AD. Conclusion: Our results suggest that mitochondrial proteins may be related to the protective mechanisms of Rg1 in AD.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.2453-2459
• /
• 2014

Ginsenoside Rg1 is one effective anticancer and antioxidant constituent of total saponins of Panax ginseng (TSPG), which has been shown to have various pharmacological effects. Our previous study demonstrated that Rg1 had anti-tumor activity in K562 leukemia cells. The aim of this study was designed to investigate whether Rg1 could induce apoptosis in TF-1/Epo cells and further to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here we found that Rg1 could inhibit TF-1/Epo cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in vitro in a concentration and time dependent manner. It also suppressed the expression of EpoR on the surface membrane and inhibited JAK2/STAT5 pathway activity. Rg1 induced up-regulation of Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and C-PAPR protein and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and AG490, a JAK2 specific inhibitor, could enhance the effects of Rg1. Our studies showed that EpoR-mediated JAK2/STAT5 signaling played a key role in Rg1-induced apoptosis in TF-1/Epo cells. These results may provide new insights of Rg1 protective roles in the prevention a nd treatment of leukemia.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.49-57
• /
• 2019

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG; Panax ginseng Meyer) is a widely used medicinal herb known to exert various immune modulatory functions. KRG and one of its purified components, ginsenoside Rg3, are known to possess anti-inflammatory activities. How they impact helper T cell-mediated responses is not fully explored. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effect of KRG extract (KRGE) and ginsenoside Rg3 on Th1 cell responses. Methods: Using well-characterized T cell in vitro differentiation systems, we examined the effects of KRGE or enhanced Rg3 on the Th1-inducing cytokine production from dendritic cells (DC) and the naïve $CD4^+$ T cells differentiation to Th1 cells. Furthermore, we examined the change of Th1 cell population in the intestine after treatment of enhanced Rg3. The influence of KRGE or enhanced Rg3 on Th1 cell differentiation was evaluated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: KRGE significantly inhibited the production level of IL-12 from DCs and subsequent Th1 cell differentiation. Similarly, enhanced Rg3 significantly suppressed the expression of interferon gamma ($IFN{\gamma}$) and T-bet in T cells under Th1-skewing condition. Consistent with these effects in vitro, oral administration of enhanced Rg3 suppressed the frequency of Th1 cells in the Peyer's patch and lamina propria cells in vivo. Conclusion: Enhanced Rg3 negatively regulates the differentiation of Th1 cell in vitro and Th1 cell responses in the gut in vivo, providing fundamental basis for the use of this agent to treat Th1-related diseases.