Protective effect of ginsenoside Rk1, a major rare saponin from black ginseng, on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in HEK-293 cells

Cisplatin-based combination therapies: Their efficacy with a focus on ginsenosides co-administration

Cisplatin, a frequently prescribed chemotherapeutic agent, serves as a clinically therapeutic strategy for a broad range of malignancies. Its primary mode of action centers around interference with DNA replication and RNA transcription, thereby inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. Nevertheless, the clinical utility of cisplatin is constrained by its severe adverse effects and the burgeoning problem of drug resistance. Ginsenosides, potent bioactive constituents derived from ginseng, possess an array of biological activities. Recent scientific investigations underscore the substantial amplification of cisplatin's anticancer potency and the mitigation of its harmful side effects when administered concomitantly with ginsenosides. This review aims to explore the underlying mechanisms at play in this combination therapy. Initially, we provide a concise introduction to the cisplatin. Then, we pivot towards illuminating how ginsenosides bolster the anticancer efficacy of cisplatin and counteract cisplatin resistance, culminating in enhanced therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, we provide an extensive discussion on the reduction of cisplatin-induced toxicity in the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, and ear, accompanied by immune-fortification with ginsenosides. The existing clinical combined use of cisplatin and ginsenosides is also discussed. We propose several recommendations to propel additional research into the mechanisms governing the synergistic use of ginsenosides and cisplatin, thereby furnishing invaluable insights and fostering advancement in combined modality therapy.

Therapeutic Applications of Ginseng Natural Compounds for Health Management

Ginseng is usually consumed as a daily food supplement to improve health and has been shown to benefit skeletal muscle, improve glucose metabolism, and ameliorate muscle-wasting conditions, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and the effects of aging and cancers. Ginseng has also been reported to help maintain bone strength and liver (digestion, metabolism, detoxification, and protein synthesis) and kidney functions. In addition, ginseng is often used to treat age-associated neurodegenerative disorders, and ginseng and ginseng-derived natural products are popular natural remedies for diseases such as diabetes, obesity, oxidative stress, and inflammation, as well as fungal, bacterial, and viral infections. Ginseng is a well-known herbal medication, known to alleviate the actions of several cytokines. The article concludes with future directions and significant application of ginseng compounds for researchers in understanding the promising role of ginseng in the treatment of several diseases. Overall, this study was undertaken to highlight the broad-spectrum therapeutic applications of ginseng compounds for health management.

Lobetyolin, a Q-marker isolated from Radix Platycodi, exerts protective effects on cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in HEK293 cells

This study investigated the protective effect of lobetyolin (LBT), a Q-marker isolated from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum (Radix Platycodi), against cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Results showed that LBT at 20 μM significantly prevented cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity by improving the viability of HEK293 cells, decreasing levels of MDA, and decreasing GSH content triggered by cisplatin. It also suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Molecular docking analysis revealed a strong binding affinity between LBT and the NF-κB protein, with a docking fraction of - 6.5 kcal/mol. These results provide compelling evidence suggesting a potential link between the visualization analysis of LBT and its protective mechanism, specifically implicating the NF-κB signaling pathway. LBT also reduced the expression level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), phosphorylation NF-κB and IκBα in HEK293 cells which were increased by cisplatin exposure, leading to inhibition of inflammation. Furthermore, western blotting showed that LBT antagonized the up-regulation of Bax, cleaved caspase 3, 8, and 9 expression and inhibited the MAPK signaling pathway by down-regulating phosphorylation JNK, ERK, and p38, partially ameliorating cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in HEK293 cells. Therefore, these results indicate that LBT has potentially protected renal function by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis.

Potential therapeutic effects of Chinese meteria medica in mitigating drug-induced acute kidney injury

Drug-induced acute kidney injury (DI-AKI) is one of the leading causes of kidney injury, is associated with high mortality and morbidity, and limits the clinical use of certain therapeutic or diagnostic agents, such as antineoplastic drugs, antibiotics, immunosuppressants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and contrast media. In recent years, numerous studies have shown that many Chinese meteria medica, metabolites derived from botanical drugs, and Chinese medicinal formulas confer protective effects against DI-AKI by targeting a variety of cellular or molecular mechanisms, such as oxidative stress, inflammatory, cell necrosis, apoptosis, and autophagy. This review summarizes the research status of common DI-AKI with Chinese meteria medica interventions, including cisplatin, gentamicin, contrast agents, methotrexate, and acetaminophen. At the same time, this review introduces the metabolites with application prospects represented by ginseng saponins, tetramethylpyrazine, panax notoginseng saponins, and curcumin. Overall, this review provides a reference for the development of promising nephroprotectants.

Ginsenoside Rk1 attenuates radiation-induced intestinal injury through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Radiation-induced intestinal injury (RIII) frequently occurs during radiotherapy; however, methods for treating RIII are limited. Ginsenoside Rk1 (RK1) is a substance that is derived from ginseng, and it has several biological activities, such as antiapoptotic, antioxidant and anticancer activities. The present study was designed to investigate the potential protective effect of Rk1 on RIII and the potential mechanisms. The results showed that RK1 treatment significantly improved the survival rate of the irradiated rats and markedly ameliorated the structural injury of the intestinal mucosa observed by histology. Treatment with RK1 significantly alleviated radiation-induced intestinal epithelial cell oxidative stress apoptosis. Moreover, RNA-Seq identified 388 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and showed that the PI3K-AKT pathway might be a key signaling pathway by which RK1 exerts its therapeutic effects on RIII. The western blotting results showed that the p-PI3K, p-AKT and p-mTOR expression levels, which were increased by radiation, were markedly inhibited by Rk1, and these effects were reversed by IGF-1. The present study demonstrates that Rk1 can alleviate RIII and that the mechanism underlying the antiapoptotic effects of RK1 may involve the suppression of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. This study provides a promising therapeutic agent for RIII.

MicroRNAs Involved in Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway during Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity: Potential Use of Natural Products against DDP-Induced Apoptosis

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II), DDP) is an antineoplastic agent widely used in the treatment of solid tumors because of its extensive cytotoxic activity. However, the main limiting side effect of DDP use is nephrotoxicity, a rapid deterioration in kidney function due to toxic chemicals. Several studies have shown that epigenetic processes are involved in DDP-induced nephrotoxicity. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), a class of epigenetic processes, are molecules that regulate gene expression under physiological and pathological conditions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the most characterized class of ncRNAs and are engaged in many cellular processes. In this review, we describe how different miRNAs regulate some pathways leading to cell death by apoptosis, specifically the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Accordingly, many classes of natural products have been tested for their ability to prevent DDP-induced apoptosis. The study of epigenetic regulation for underlying cell death is still being studied, which will allow new strategies for the diagnosis and therapy of this unwanted disease, which is presented as a side effect of antineoplastic treatment.

1-O-Actylbritannilactone Ameliorates Alcohol-Induced Hepatotoxicity through Regulation of ROS/Akt/NF-κB-Mediated Apoptosis and Inflammation

1-O-Acetylbritannilactone (ABL) is a marker component of Inula britannica L. and is reported to exhibit multiple pharmacological activities, including antiaging, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties. Although the protective effect of Inula britannica L. on animal models of liver injury has been widely reported, the effect of ABL on alcohol-induced liver damage has not been confirmed. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of ABL against alcohol-induced LO2 human normal liver cell injury and to further clarify the underlying mechanism. Our results revealed that ABL at concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 2 μM could remarkably suppress the decreased viability of LO2 cells stimulated by alcohol. In addition, ABL pretreatment improved alcohol-induced oxidative damage by decreasing the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the excessive consumption of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), while increasing the level of catalase (CAT) in LO2 cells. Moreover, Western blotting analysis showed that ABL pretreatment activated protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation, increased downstream antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression, and decreased the phosphorylation level of the caspase family including caspase 9 and caspase 3 proteins, thereby attenuating LO2 cell apoptosis. Importantly, we also found that ABL significantly inhibits the activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway by reducing the secretion of proinflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL-1β). In conclusion, the current research clearly suggests that the protective effect of ABL on alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity may be achieved in part through regulation of the ROS/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway to inhibit inflammation and apoptosis in LO2 cells. (The article path map has not been seen.).

Panax ginseng and its ginsenosides: potential candidates for the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced side effects

Chemotherapy-induced side effects affect the quality of life and efficacy of treatment of cancer patients. Current approaches for treating the side effects of chemotherapy are poorly effective and may cause numerous harmful side effects. Therefore, developing new and effective drugs derived from natural non-toxic compounds for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced side effects is necessary. Experiments in vivo and in vitro indicate that Panax ginseng (PG) and its ginsenosides are undoubtedly non-toxic and effective options for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced side effects, such as nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and hematopoietic inhibition. The mechanism focus on anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-apoptosis, as well as the modulation of signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), P62/keap1/Nrf2, c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/P53/caspase 3, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4)/JNK, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT. Since a systemic review of the effect and mechanism of PG and its ginsenosides on chemotherapy-induced side effects has not yet been published, we provide a comprehensive summarization with this aim and shed light on the future research of PG.