Article: Bioactivity-guided identification and cell signaling technology to delineate the immunomodulatory effects of Panax ginseng on human promonocytic U937 cells

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TitleBioactivity-guided identification and cell signaling technology to delineate the immunomodulatory effects of Panax ginseng on human promonocytic U937 cells
AuthorsLee, DCW2
Yang, CLH1
Chik, SCC1
Li, JCB1 2
Rong, JH1
Chan, GCF2
Lau, ASY1 2
Issue Date2009
PublisherBioMed Central Ltd. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.translational-medicine.com/home/
CitationJournal Of Translational Medicine, 2009, v. 7 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5876-7-34
AbstractBackground: Ginseng is believed to have beneficial effects against human diseases, and its active components, ginsenosides, may play critical roles in its diverse physiological actions. However, the mechanisms underlying ginseng's effects remain to be investigated. We hypothesize some biological effects of ginseng are due to its anti-inflammatory effects. Methods: Human promonocytic U937 cells were used to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of ginseng following TNF-α treatment. A global gene expression profile was obtained by using genechip analysis, and specific cytokine expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA. HPLC was used to define the composition of ginsenosides in 70% ethanol-water extracts of ginseng. Activation of signalling kinases was examined by Western blot analysis. Results: Seventy percent ethanol-water extracts of ginseng significantly inhibited the transcription and secretion of CXCL-10 following TNF-α stimulation. Nine ginsenosides including Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg3 and Rh1 were identified in our extract by HPLC. Seven out of nine ginsenosides could significantly inhibit TNF-α-induced CXCL-10 expression in U937 cells and give comparable inhibition of CXCL-10 transcription to those with the extract. However, the CXCL-10 suppressive effect of individual ginsenosides was less than that of the crude extract or the mixture of ginsenosides. The CXCL-10 suppression can be correlated with the inactivation of ERK1/2 pathways by ginseng. Conclusion: We showed ginseng suppressed part of the TNF-α-inducible cytokines and signalling proteins in promonocytic cells, suggesting that it exerts its anti-inflammatory property targeting at different levels of TNF-α activity. The anti-inflammatory role of ginseng may be due to the combined effects of ginsenosides, contributing in part to the diverse actions of ginseng in humans. © 2009 Lee et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
ISSN1479-5876
2011 Impact Factor: 3.474
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.339
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5876-7-34
ISI Accession Number IDWOS:000267240900001
PubMed Central IDPMC2689162
ReferencesReferences in Scopus
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorLee, DCW
dc.contributor.authorYang, CLH
dc.contributor.authorChik, SCC
dc.contributor.authorLi, JCB
dc.contributor.authorRong, JH
dc.contributor.authorChan, GCF
dc.contributor.authorLau, ASY
dc.date.accessioned2010-10-31T11:18:08Z
dc.date.available2010-10-31T11:18:08Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.description.abstractBackground: Ginseng is believed to have beneficial effects against human diseases, and its active components, ginsenosides, may play critical roles in its diverse physiological actions. However, the mechanisms underlying ginseng's effects remain to be investigated. We hypothesize some biological effects of ginseng are due to its anti-inflammatory effects. Methods: Human promonocytic U937 cells were used to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of ginseng following TNF-α treatment. A global gene expression profile was obtained by using genechip analysis, and specific cytokine expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA. HPLC was used to define the composition of ginsenosides in 70% ethanol-water extracts of ginseng. Activation of signalling kinases was examined by Western blot analysis. Results: Seventy percent ethanol-water extracts of ginseng significantly inhibited the transcription and secretion of CXCL-10 following TNF-α stimulation. Nine ginsenosides including Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg3 and Rh1 were identified in our extract by HPLC. Seven out of nine ginsenosides could significantly inhibit TNF-α-induced CXCL-10 expression in U937 cells and give comparable inhibition of CXCL-10 transcription to those with the extract. However, the CXCL-10 suppressive effect of individual ginsenosides was less than that of the crude extract or the mixture of ginsenosides. The CXCL-10 suppression can be correlated with the inactivation of ERK1/2 pathways by ginseng. Conclusion: We showed ginseng suppressed part of the TNF-α-inducible cytokines and signalling proteins in promonocytic cells, suggesting that it exerts its anti-inflammatory property targeting at different levels of TNF-α activity. The anti-inflammatory role of ginseng may be due to the combined effects of ginsenosides, contributing in part to the diverse actions of ginseng in humans. © 2009 Lee et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
dc.description.naturepublished_or_final_version
dc.identifier.citationJournal Of Translational Medicine, 2009, v. 7 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5876-7-34
dc.identifier.citeulike4519470
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5876-7-34
dc.identifier.hkuros179089
dc.identifier.hkuros161570
dc.identifier.isiWOS:000267240900001
dc.identifier.issn1479-5876
2011 Impact Factor: 3.474
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.339
dc.identifier.openurl
dc.identifier.pmcidPMC2689162
dc.identifier.pmid19442267
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-66949121846
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/125217
dc.identifier.volume7
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherBioMed Central Ltd. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.translational-medicine.com/home/
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdom
dc.relation.ispartofJournal of Translational Medicine
dc.relation.referencesReferences in Scopus
dc.rightsJournal of Translational Medicine. Copyright © BioMed Central Ltd.
dc.rightsCreative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License
dc.subject.meshChemokine CXCL10 - metabolism
dc.subject.meshImmunologic Factors - pharmacology
dc.subject.meshPanax - chemistry
dc.subject.meshPlant Extracts - pharmacology
dc.subject.meshSignal Transduction - drug effects
dc.titleBioactivity-guided identification and cell signaling technology to delineate the immunomodulatory effects of Panax ginseng on human promonocytic U937 cells
dc.typeArticle
Author Affiliations
  1. The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
  2. The University of Hong Kong