Protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides differentially modulate type 1 and type 2 cytokines production from murine splenocytes

Planta Med. 2005 Mar;71(3):202-7. doi: 10.1055/s-2005-837817.

Abstract

Seven protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides and their aglycones including PPT, PT, -Re, -Rg (1), -F (1), -Rh (1), 20(R)-Rh (1) which are closely related in structure were studied for their effects on type 1 and type 2 cytokines production from murine splenocytes and their related mechanisms were examined. The results indicate that PPT, PT and ginsenoside-Re show hardly any or weak effects on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced production of IFN-gamma and IL-4. Ginsenoside-Rh (1) and 20(R)-Rh (1) induce a Con A-induced type 1 cytokine pattern by increasing the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12), the expression of IFN-gamma, T-bet and enhancing NF-kappaB DNA binding activity. In contrast ginsenosides-Rg (1) and -F (1) cause a Con A-induced type 2 cytokines response by increasing the expression of IL-4, GATA-3 and enhancing NF-kappaB DNA binding activity. Thus, these protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides have different immunomodulatory effects, which might explain the complex immunomodulatory effect of Panax ginseng.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytokines / drug effects*
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / drug effects
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Ginsenosides / administration & dosage
  • Ginsenosides / pharmacology
  • Ginsenosides / therapeutic use
  • Interferon-gamma / drug effects
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-12 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • NF-kappa B / drug effects
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Panax*
  • Phytotherapy*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sapogenins / administration & dosage
  • Sapogenins / pharmacology*
  • Sapogenins / therapeutic use
  • Spleen / cytology
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-bet Transcription Factor
  • Trans-Activators / drug effects
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / drug effects
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Triterpenes / administration & dosage
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Triterpenes / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Gata3 protein, mouse
  • Ginsenosides
  • NF-kappa B
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Sapogenins
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-bet Transcription Factor
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Triterpenes
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interleukin-4
  • protopanaxatriol
  • Interferon-gamma