Panax ginseng induces anterograde transport of pigment organelles in Xenopus melanophores

J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Sep 2;119(1):17-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2008.05.024. Epub 2008 Jul 17.

Abstract

Melanophores from Xenopus laevis are pigmented cells, capable of quick colour changes through cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP) coordinated transport of their intracellular pigment granules, melanosomes. In this study we use the melanophore cell line to evaluate the effects of Panax ginseng extract G115 on organelle transport. Absorbance readings of melanophore-coated microplates, Correlate-EIA direct cAMP enzyme immunoassay kit, and western blot were used to measure the melanosome movement and changes in intracellular signalling. We show that Panax ginseng induces a fast concentration-dependent anterograde transport of the melanosomes. No significant increase in the cAMP level was seen and pre-incubation of melanophores with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor EGF-R Fragment 651-658 (M-EGF) only partly decreased the ginseng-induced dispersion. We also demonstrate that Panax ginseng, endothelin-3 (ET-3) and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) stimulate an activation of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK). Pre-incubation with M-EGF decreased the MAPK activity induced by ET-3 and MSH, but again only marginally affected the response of Panax ginseng. Thus, in melanophores we suggest that Panax ginseng stimulates an anterograde transport of pigment organelles via a non-cAMP and mainly PKC-independent pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Endothelin-3 / pharmacology
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques / methods
  • Melanophores / drug effects
  • Melanophores / metabolism
  • Organelles / drug effects*
  • Organelles / metabolism
  • Panax / chemistry*
  • Pigments, Biological / metabolism*
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinase C / drug effects
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Xenopus laevis
  • alpha-MSH / pharmacology

Substances

  • Endothelin-3
  • Pigments, Biological
  • Plant Extracts
  • alpha-MSH
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Protein Kinase C