Transgenic Panax ginseng inhibits the production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 as well as COX-2 expression in human mast cells

Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(2):329-39. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X07004850.

Abstract

The most well-known medicinal plant, Panax ginseng (P. ginseng), contains various phytosterols and bioactive triterpene saponins (ginsenosides). Squalene synthase is a key regulatory enzyme for triterpene biosynthesis and overexpression of the squalene synthase confers the hyper-production of triterpene saponins to form transgenic ginseng. In this study, we have investigated whether and how transgenic P. ginseng modulates an inflammatory reaction in a stimulated human mast cell line, HMC-1. It was found that transgenic P. ginseng inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-stimulated HMC-1. Additionally, we have shown that transgenic P. ginseng suppressed the intracellular calcium level induced by PMACI. These results provide new insights into the pharmacological actions of transgenic P. ginseng as a potential molecule for use in therapy in mast cell-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calcium / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-8 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interleukin-8 / metabolism
  • Mast Cells / metabolism
  • Panax*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-8
  • Plant Extracts
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Calcium