Panax ginseng--a non-organ-specific cancer preventive?

Formation of self-assembly aggregates in traditional Chinese medicine decoctions and their application in cancer treatments

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas, based on the principles of Chinese medicine, have a long history and are widely applied in the treatment of diseases. Compared to single-component drugs, TCM formulas demonstrate superior therapeutic efficacy and fewer side effects owing to their synergistic effects and mechanisms of detoxification and efficacy enhancement. However, various drawbacks, such as the uncertainty of functional targets and molecular mechanisms, poor solubility of components, and low bioavailability, have limited the global promotion and application of TCM formulas. To overcome these limitations, self-assembled aggregate (SA) nanotechnology has emerged as a promising solution. SA nanotechnology significantly enhances the bioavailability and anti-tumor efficacy of TCM by improving its absorption, distribution, and precise targeting capabilities, thereby providing an innovative solution for the modernization and internationalization of TCM. This review delves into the nature and common interactions of SAs based on the latest research developments. The structural characteristics of SAs in TCM formulas, paired-herb decoctions, and single-herb decoctions are analyzed and their self-assembly mechanisms are systematically elucidated. In addition, this article elaborates on the advantages of SAs in cancer treatment, particularly in enhancing the bioavailability and targeting capabilities. Furthermore, this review aims to provide new perspectives for the study of TCM compatibility and its clinical applications, thereby driving the innovative development of nanomaterials in this field. On addressing the technological challenges, SAs are expected to further promote the global application and recognition of TCM in the healthcare sector.

Ginsenoside Rg3 attenuates the stemness of breast cancer stem cells by activating the hippo signaling pathway

Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), a bioactive compound from ginseng, is gaining attention for its potential in targeting cancer stem cells in cancer therapy. The therapeutic effect of Rg3 on breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) has not been systematically explored using a suitable approach. Our study leverages a multi-faceted strategy, including network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments validation, to explore the effect of Rg3 against BCSCs. We identified 38 common targets of Rg3 and BCSCs through public databases mining. The analysis of protein-protein interaction network revealed Myc, Stat3, Bcl2, Cdh1, Egf, Il6, Egfr, Nfkb1, Sox2 and Sirt1 as the top 10 potential targets. Molecular docking further validated Rg3 has robust binding potential with these targets. Utilizing the BCSC-enriched MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 mammosphere model, in vitro experiments substantiated Rg3's ability to induce apoptosis, suppress proliferation, and inhibit mammospheres formation of BCSCs. Rg3 also decreased the ALDHhigh and CD44+/CD24-/low subpopulations and downregulated the expression of cancer stem cell markers such as c-MYC, ALDH1A1, NANOG in BCSCs. After Rg3 treatment, most of the top 10 genes in BCSC-enriched MCF-7 mammospheres showed a significant reduction in expression, with Cdh1 (E-cadherin) being the most markedly downregulated. The E-cadherin/catenin complex acts as an upstream regulator of the Hippo signaling pathway, which is crucial for BCSC function and is among the top 20 enriched pathways identified by KEGG analysis. Mechanistically, Rg3 attenuates the stemness of BCSCs by activating the Hippo signaling pathway. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of Rg3 as a promising therapeutic agent against BCSCs.

Korean Red ginseng enhances ZBP1-mediated cell death to suppress viral protein expression in host defense against Influenza A virus

Korean Red ginseng has emerged as a potent candidate in the fight against various viral infections, demonstrating significant efficacy both in vitro and in vivo, particularly against influenza A viruses. Despite substantial evidence of its antiviral properties, the detailed molecular mechanisms through which it reduces viral lethality remain insufficiently understood. Our investigations have highlighted the superior effectiveness of Korean Red ginseng against influenza viruses, outperforming its effects on numerous other viral strains. We aim to uncover the specific mechanisms by which Korean Red ginseng exerts its antiviral effects, focusing on influenza A viruses. Our prior studies have identified the role of Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1), a signaling complex involved in inducing programmed cell death in response to influenza virus infection. Given the critical role of ZBP1 as a sensor for viral nucleic acid, we hypothesize that Korean Red ginseng may modulate the ZBP1-derived cell death pathway. This interaction is anticipated to enhance cell death while concurrently suppressing viral protein expression, offering novel insights into the antiviral mechanism of Korean Red ginseng against influenza A viruses.

Herbal materials used as soil amendments alleviate root rot of Panax ginseng

Root rot is a serious soil-borne fungal disease that seriously affects the yield and quality of Panxa ginseng. To develop a sustainable strategy for alleviating ginseng root rot, an herb-based soil amendment is suggested in this study. Mixed powers of medicinal herbs (MP) and corn stalks (CS) were used as soil amendments, respectively, along with a control group (CK) without treatment. The application of MP and CS led to significant relief from ginseng root rot. The disease index (%) represents both the incidence rate and symptom severity of the disease. The disease index of the MP and CS group was 18.52% and 25.93%, respectively, lower than that of CK (40.74%). Correspondingly, three soil enzyme activities improved; the antifungal components in the soil increased; and the relative abundances of root rot pathogens decreased in response to MP Soil enzyme activities were negatively correlated with disease grades. MP group also led to possible interactive changes in the communities of soil fungi and chemical components. In conclusion, our results suggest that the use of herb-based soil amendments has significant potential as an ecological and effective approach to controlling root rot disease of ginseng by the changing rhizosphere fungal community and soil compositions.

Traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cancers of hepatobiliary system: from clinical evidence to drug discovery

Hepatic, biliary, and pancreatic cancer pose significant challenges in the field of digestive system diseases due to their highly malignant nature. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained attention as a potential therapeutic approach with long-standing use in China and well-recognized clinical benefits. In this review, we systematically summarized the clinical applications of TCM that have shown promising results in clinical trials in treating hepatic, biliary, and pancreatic cancer. We highlighted several commonly used TCM therapeutics with validated efficacy through rigorous clinical trials, including Huaier Granule, Huachansu, and Icaritin. The active compounds and their potential targets have been thoroughly elucidated to offer valuable insights into the potential of TCM for anti-cancer drug discovery. We emphasized the importance of further research to bridge the gap between TCM and modern oncology, facilitating the development of evidence-based TCM treatment for these challenging malignancies.

Matching traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine-based research: Advanced nutraceutical development for proactive gastric cancer prevention

Gastric cancer (GC), the third leading cause of cancer-related death globally, is complex and heterogeneous. This review explores multidisciplinary investigations of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with Western medical practices, emphasizing the development of nutraceuticals for cancer prevention. Using advanced analytical chemistry and food chemistry techniques, this study investigated how TCM components may be optimized for nutraceutical development. Focusing on molecular interactions with GC pathways, particularly the NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, we examined the effects of TCM polyherbal formulas, extracts, and isolated compounds. These agents modulate apoptosis and cellular proliferation, underscoring their potential in preventive strategies. The convergence of nutraceutical and medicine food homology studies highlights a significant shift towards integrating TCM-derived compounds in a preventive health framework. This approach aims not only to enhance efficacy and reduce side effects but also to champion a preventive paradigm using personalized medicine to advance proactive health maintenance and disease prevention. The combination of TCM and western medical practices offers promising avenues for future research and practical applications in GC prevention.

A Gellan Gum, Polyethylene Glycol, Hydroxyapatite Composite Scaffold with the Addition of Ginseng Derived Compound K with Possible Applications in Bone Regeneration

Engineered bone scaffolds should mimic the natural material to promote cell adhesion and regeneration. For this reason, natural biopolymers are becoming a gold standard in scaffold production. In this study, we proposed a hybrid scaffold produced using gellan gum, hydroxyapatite, and Poly (ethylene glycol) within the addition of the ginseng compound K (CK) as a candidate for bone regeneration. The fabricated scaffold was physiochemically characterized. The morphology studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and image analysis revealed a pore distribution suitable for cells growth. The addition of CK further improved the biological activity of the hybrid scaffold as demonstrated by the MTT assay. The addition of CK influenced the scaffold morphology, decreasing the mean pore diameter. These findings can potentially help the development of a new generation of hybrid scaffolds to best mimic the natural tissue.

Evolving the 3-O/6-O regiospecificity of a microbial glycosyltransferase for efficient production of ginsenoside Rh1 and unnatural ginsenoside

Glycosyltransferase is a popular and promising enzyme to produce high-value-added natural products. Rare ginsenoside Rh1 and unnatural ginsenoside 3β-O-Glc-PPT are promising candidates for drugs. Herein, the microbial glycosyltransferase UGTBL1 was able to catalyze the 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (PPT) 3-O/6-O-glycosylation with poor 6-O-regiospecificity. A structure-guided strategy of mutations involving loop engineering, PSPG motif evolution, and access tunnel engineering was proposed to engineer the enzyme UGTBL1. The variant I62R/M320H/P321Y/N170A from protein engineering achieved a great improvement in 6-O regioselectivity which increased from 10.98 % (WT) to 96.26 % and a booming conversion of 95.57 % for ginsenoside Rh1. A single mutant M320W showed an improved 3-O regioselectivity of 84.83 % and an increased conversion of 98.13 % for the 3β-O-glc-PPT product. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to elucidate the possible molecular basis of the regiospecificity and catalytic activity. The unprecedented high titer of ginsenoside Rh1 (20.48 g/L) and 3β-O-Glc-PPT (18.04 g/L) was attained with high regioselectivity and yields using fed-batch cascade reactions from UDPG recycle, which was the highest yield reported to date. This work could provide an efficient and cost-effective approach to the valuable ginsenosides.

Using Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling to Study the Main Active Substances of the Anticancer Effect in Mice from Panax ginseng-Ophiopogon japonicus

Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey, Hongshen, in Chinese) and Ophiopogonis Radix (Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f) Ker-Gawl., Maidong, in Chinese) are traditional Chinese herbal pairs, which were clinically employed to enhance the immune system of cancer patients. This study employed the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) spectrum-effect association model to investigate the antitumor active substances of P. ginseng and O. japonicus (PG-OJ). The metabolic processes of 20 major bioactive components were analyzed using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) in the lung tissue of tumor-bearing mice treated with PG-OJ. The ELISA method was employed to detect the levels of TGF-β1, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in the lung tissue of mice at various time points, and to analyze their changes after drug administration. The results showed that all components presented a multiple peaks absorption pattern within 0.083 to 24 h post-drug administration. The tumor inhibition rate of tumor and repair rate of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 all increased, indicating a positive therapeutic effect of PG-OJ on A549 tumor-bearing mice. Finally, a PK-PD model based on the GBDT algorithm was developed for the first time to speculate that Methylophiopogonanone A, Methylophiopogonanone B, Ginsenoside Rb1, and Notoginsenoside R1 are the main active components in PG-OJ for lung cancer treatment.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ginsenoside Rg1 for hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic reviews and meta-analyses of animal studies

Background: According to existing laboratory data, ginsenoside Rg1 may help cure diabetes and its complications by reducing oxidative stress (OS) and managing inflammation. However, this conclusion lacks reliability and is unclear. As a result, the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ginsenoside Rg1 in the treatment of diabetes and its complications. Methods: We searched for relevant studies published through December 2022, including electronic bibliographic databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang. The SYstematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation Risk of Bias (SYRCLE RoB) tool was used to conduct a meta-analysis to assess the methodological quality of animal research. The meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan5.4 software, following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. This study is registered in the International Systems Review Prospective Registry (PROSPERO) as CRD42023386830. Results: Eighteen eligible studies involving 401 animals were included. Ginsenoside Rg1 was significantly correlated with blood glucose (BG), insulin levels, body weight, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. In addition, according to subgroup analysis, the hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of ginsenoside Rg1 in type 2 diabetic animals were not affected by experimental species, modeling, experimental drug dosage, or course of treatment. Conclusion: This meta-analysis presents a summary of the hypoglycemic effects of ginsenoside Rg1, which are achieved through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms. These findings provide evidence-based support for the medical efficacy of ginsenoside Rg1. Specifically, ginsenoside Rg1 reduced MDA levels and restored SOD activity to exert its antioxidant activity. It had a positive effect on the reduction of IL-6 and TNF-α levels. However, the inclusion of studies with low methodological quality and the presence of publication bias may undermine the validity of the results. Further investigation with a more rigorous experimental design and comprehensive studies is necessary to fully understand the specific glycemic mechanisms of ginsenosides. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier https://CRD42023386830.

A Focused Review on Molecular Signalling Mechanisms of Ginsenosides Anti-Lung Cancer and Anti-inflammatory Activities

BACKGROUND

Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is a cultivated medicinal herb that has been widely available in the Asian region since the last century. Ginseng root is used worldwide in Oriental medicine. Currently, the global mortality and infection rates for lung cancer and inflammation are significantly increasing. Therefore, various preventative methods related to the activity of ginsenosides have been used for lung cancer as well as inflammation.

METHODS

Web-based searches were performed on Web of Science, Springer, PubMed, and Scopus. A cancer statistical analysis was also conducted to show the current ratio of affected cases and death from lung cancer around the world.

RESULTS

Ginsenosides regulate the enzymes that participate in tumor growth and migration, such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signalregulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), the gelatinase network metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2/9) and activator protein 1 (AP-1). In addition, ginsenosides also possess anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the formation of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α) (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and controlling the activities of inflammatory signalling pathways, such as NF-κB, Janus kinase2/signal transducer, and activator of transcription 3 (Jak2/Stat3).

CONCLUSION

In several in vitro and in vivo models, P. ginseng showed potential beneficial effects in lung cancer and inflammation treatment. In this review, we provide a detailed and up-to-date summary of research evidence for antilung cancer and anti-inflammatory protective effects of ginsenosides and their potential molecular mechanisms.

Gut Microbiota Modulation of Efficacy and Toxicity of Cancer Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy

Accumulating evidence supports not only the functional role of the gut microbiome in cancer development and progression but also its role in defining the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents (5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, gemcitabine, methotrexate) and immunotherapeutic compounds (anti-programmed death-ligand 1/anti-programmed cell death protein 1 and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4). This evidence is supported in numerous in vitro, animal, and clinical studies that highlight the importance of microbial mechanisms in defining therapeutic responses. The microbiome therefore shapes oncologic outcomes and is now being leveraged for the development of novel personalized therapeutic approaches in cancer treatment. However, if the microbiome is to be successfully translated into next-generation oncologic treatments, a new multimodal model of the oncomicrobiome must be conceptualized that incorporates gut microbial cometabolism of pharmacologic agents into cancer care. The objective of this review is therefore to outline the current knowledge of oncologic pharmacomicrobiomics and to describe how the multiparametric functions of the gut microbiome influence treatment response across cancer types. The secondary objective is to propose innovative approaches for modulating the gut microbiome in clinical environments that improve therapy efficacy and diminish toxic effects derived from antineoplastic agents for patient benefit.

The Ginsenoside Compound K Suppresses Stem-Cell-like Properties and Colorectal Cancer Metastasis by Targeting Hypoxia-Driven Nur77-Akt Feed-Forward Signaling

Hypoxia reprograms cancer stem cells. Nur77, an orphan nuclear receptor, highly expresses and facilitates colorectal cancer (CRC) stemness and metastasis under a hypoxic microenvironment. However, safe and effective small molecules that target Nur77 for CSC depletion remain unexplored. Here, we report our identification of the ginsenoside compound K (CK) as a new ligand of Nur77. CK strongly inhibits hypoxia-induced CRC sphere formation and CSC phenotypes in a Nur77-dependent manner. Hypoxia induces an intriguing Nur77-Akt feed-forward loop, resulting in reinforced PI3K/Akt signaling that is druggable by targeting Nur77. CK directly binds and modulates Nur77 phosphorylation to block the Nur77-Akt activation loop by disassociating Nur77 from the p63-bound Dicer promoter. The transcription of Dicer that is silenced under a hypoxia microenvironment is thus reactivated by CK. Consequently, the expression and processing capability of microRNA let-7i-5p are significantly increased, which targets PIK3CA mRNA for decay. The in vivo results showed that CK suppresses cancer stemness and metastasis without causing significant adverse effects. Given that the majority of FDA-approved and currently clinically tested PI3K/Akt inhibitors are reversible ATP-competitive kinase antagonists, targeting Nur77 for PI3K/Akt inactivation may provide an alternative strategy to overcoming concerns about drug selectivity and safety. The mechanistic target identification provides a basis for exploring CK as a promising nutraceutical against CRC.

Transcriptome reveals insights into biosynthesis of ginseng polysaccharides

BACKGROUND

Ginseng polysaccharides, have been used to treat various diseases as an important active ingredient. Nevertheless, the biosynthesis of ginseng polysaccharides is poorly understood. To elucidate the biosynthesis mechanism of ginseng polysaccharides, combined the transcriptome analysis and polysaccharides content determination were performed on the roots, stems, and leaves collected from four cultivars of ginseng.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the total contents of nine monosaccharides were highest in the roots. Moreover, the total content of nine monosaccharides in the roots of the four cultivars were different but similar in stems and leaves. Glucose (Glc) was the most component of all monosaccharides. In total, 19 potential enzymes synthesizing of ginseng polysaccharides were identified, and 17 enzymes were significantly associated with polysaccharides content. Among these genes, the expression of phosphoglucomutase (PGM), glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI), UTP-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (UGP2), fructokinase (scrK), mannose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase (GMPP), phosphomannomutase (PMM), UDP-glucose 4-epimerase (GALE), beta-fructofuranosidase (sacA), and sucrose synthase (SUS) were correlated with that of MYB, AP2/ERF, bZIP, and NAC transcription factors (TFs). These TFs may regulate the expression of genes involved in ginseng polysaccharides synthesis.

CONCLUSION

Our findings could provide insight into a better understanding of the regulatory mechanism of polysaccharides biosynthesis, and would drive progress in genetic improvement and plantation development of ginseng.

Optimizing component formula suppresses lung cancer by blocking DTL-mediated PDCD4 ubiquitination to regulate the MAPK/JNK pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer have special curative effect on cancer treatment. The optimizing component formula (OCF) extracted from those two herbs was in line with the anti-lung cancer treatment principle of activating blood and supplementing 'Qi'. However, the study on the mechanism of component formula has always been an insurmountable challenge. Nowadays, the application of network pharmacology and artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of TCM provides new ideas for the study of new targets and mechanisms of TCM, which promotes the modernization of TCM.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to further explore the anti-lung cancer mechanism of OCF by using an integrated strategy of network pharmacology and AI technology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Bioinformatic analysis was used to analyze the expression levels, prognosis and survival of DTL and PDCD4 in cancer patients. The binding strength of OCF and DTL was simulated by molecular docking, and the affinity between them was detected by Bio-layer interferometry. Network pharmacology was used to predict the active components, potential targets and pathways of OCF. The association between key targets and their corresponding components and DTL was analyzed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). MTT assay, colony formation assay, wound-healing assay and transwell assay were used to verify the inhibitory effects of OCF on lung cancer cells in vitro. qRT-PCR and Western blot assay were used to detect the effects of OCF on mRNA and protein expression of DTL, PDCD4 and key genes in MAPK/JNK pathways.

RESULTS

Bioinformatics analysis showed that DTL was significantly up-regulated in lung cancer, which was associated with high malignancy rate, high metastasis rate and poor prognosis of primary tumor. PDCD4 was down-regulated in lung cancer, and associated with high metastasis rate and poor prognosis. The good affinity between OCF and DTL was predicted and verified by molecular docking and Bio-layer interferometry. Based on the network pharmacological databases, 40 active components and 220 corresponding targets of OCF were screened out. KEGG analysis showed that OCF component targets were mainly enriched in MAPK signaling pathway. IPA results showed the interrelationship between DTL, PDCD4, MAPK pathway genes and their corresponding OCF components. In addition, in vitro experiments demonstrated anti-lung cancer activity of OCF, as validated, via impairing cell viability and cell proliferation, as well as inhibiting migration and invasion abilities in lung cancer cells. qRT-PCR showed that OCF down-regulated the mRNA expression of DTL, MAP4K1, JNK, c-Jun and c-Myc, and up-regulated the mRNA expression of PDCD4 and P53 genes in A549 lung cancer cells. Western blot suggested that OCF suppressed the protein level of DTL and blocked the ubiquitination of PDCD4 in A549 lung cancer cells, and down-regulated the protein levels of MAP4K1, p-JNK and p-c-Jun while up-regulated the proteins expression level of P53.

CONCLUSIONS

OCF might elicit an anti-lung cancer effect by blocking DTL-mediated PDCD4 ubiquitination and suppression of the MAPK/JNK pathway. Meanwhile, our work revealed that network pharmacology and AI technology strategy are cogent means of studying the active components and mechanism of TCM.

Ginsenosides: Allies of gastrointestinal tumor immunotherapy

In the past decade, immunotherapy has been the most promising treatment for gastrointestinal tumors. But the low response rate and drug resistance remain major concerns. It is therefore imperative to develop adjuvant therapies to increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy and prevent drug resistance. Ginseng has been used in Traditional Chinese medicine as a natural immune booster for thousands of years. The active components of ginseng, ginsenosides, have played an essential role in tumor treatment for decades and are candidates for anti-tumor adjuvant therapy. They are hypothesized to cooperate with immunotherapy drugs to improve the curative effect and reduce tumor resistance and adverse reactions. This review summarizes the research into the use of ginsenosides in immunotherapy of gastrointestinal tumors and discusses potential future applications.

Optimization of Accelerated Solvent Extraction of Ginsenosides from Cultivated Wild Ginseng Using Response Surface Methodology

This study's aim is to apply response surface methodology (RSM) to model and optimize the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) technique for extracting the sum of ginsenosides (Rg1, Rb1, and Rg3) and total ginsenosides from cultivated wild ginseng. To extract ginsenosides from cultivated wild ginseng, a new ASE-based method, combined with RSM modeling and optimization, was developed. The RSM method, which was based on a five-level, three-factor central composite design, was used to obtain the optimal combination of extraction conditions. Briefly, the optimal extraction conditions for the sum of ginsenosides (Rg1, Rb1, and Rg3) and total ginsenoside were as follows: 88.64% ethanol for each extraction solvent, 105.98°C and 129.66°C of extraction temperature, 28.77 and 15.92 min of extraction time, extraction pressure of 1,500 psi, nitrogen purge of 60 s, flush volume of 60%, and one extraction cycle. A 3D response surface plot and contour plot derived from the mathematical models were applied to obtain the optimal conditions. Under the above conditions, the experimental extraction yields of the sum of ginsenosides (Rg1, Rb1, and Rg3) and total ginsenoside content were 7.45 and 32.82 mg/g, respectively, which closely agrees with the model's prediction values.

Anticolon Cancer Effect of Korean Red Ginseng via Autophagy- and Apoptosis-Mediated Cell Death

Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) has been used in East Asian traditional medicine for a long time. Korean red ginseng (KRG) is effective against several disorders, including cancer. The cytotoxic effects of KRG extract in terms of autophagy- and apoptosis-mediated cell death and its mechanisms were investigated using human colorectal cancer lines. KRG induced autophagy-mediated cell death with enhanced expression of Atg5, Beclin-1, and LC3, and formed characteristic vacuoles in HCT-116 and SNU-1033 cells. An autophagy inhibitor prevented cell death induced by KRG. KRG generated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS); antioxidant countered this effect and decreased autophagy. KRG caused apoptotic cell death by increasing apoptotic cells and sub-G₁ cells, and by activating caspases. A caspase inhibitor suppressed cell death induced by KRG. KRG increased phospho-Bcl-2 expression, but decreased Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, interaction of Bcl-2 with Beclin-1 was attenuated by KRG. Ginsenoside Rg2 was the most effective ginsenoside responsible for KRG-induced autophagy- and apoptosis-mediated cell death. KRG induced autophagy- and apoptosis-mediated cell death via mitochondrial ROS generation, and thus its administration may inhibit colon carcinogenesis.

New Therapeutic Approaches to and Mechanisms of Ginsenoside Rg1 against Neurological Diseases

Neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Huntington’s disease (HD), stroke, cerebral infarction, ischemia-reperfusion injury, depression and, stress, have high incidence and morbidity and often lead to disability. However, there is no particularly effective medication against them. Therefore, finding drugs with a suitable efficacy, low toxicity and manageable effects to improve the quality of life of patients is an urgent problem. Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) is the main active component of ginseng and has a variety of pharmacological effects. In this review, we focused on the therapeutic potential of Rg1 for improving neurological diseases. We introduce the mechanisms of Ginsenoside Rg1 in neurological diseases, including apoptosis, neuroinflammation, the microRNA (miRNA) family, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, oxidative stress, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and learning and memory of Rg1 in neurological diseases. In addition, Rg1 can also improve neurological diseases through the interaction of different signal pathways. The purpose of this review is to explore more in-depth ideas for the clinical treatment of neurological diseases (including PD, AD, HD, stroke, cerebral infarction, ischemia–reperfusion injury, depression, and stress). Therefore, Rg1 is expected to become a new therapeutic method for the clinical treatment of neurological diseases.

Ginsenoside Rh2 inhibits breast cancer cell growth via ERβ-TNFα pathway

Ginsenoside Rh2 is one of rare panaxidiols extracted from Panax ginseng and a potential estrogen receptor ligand that exhibits moderate estrogenic activity. However, the effect of Rh2 on growth inhibition and its underlying molecular mechanism in human breast cells are not fully understood. In this study, we tested cell viability by MTT and colony formation assays. Cell growth and cell cycle were determined to investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rh2 by flow cytometry. The expressions of estrogen receptors (ERs), TNFα, and apoptosis-related proteins were detected by qPCR and western blot analysis. The mechanisms of ERα and ERβ action were determined using transfection and inhibitors. Antitumor effect of ginsenoside Rh2 against MCF-7 cells was investigated in xenograft mice. Our results showed that ginsenoside Rh2 induced apoptosis and G1/S phase arrest in MCF-7 cells. Treatment of cells with ginsenoside Rh2 down-regulated protein levels of ERα, and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of ERβ and TNFα. We also found that ginsenoside Rh2-induced TNFα over-expression is through up-regulation of ERβ initiated by ginsenoside Rh2. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rh2 induced MCF-7 cell apoptosis via estrogen receptor β-TNFα pathway in vivo. These results demonstrate that ginsenoside Rh2 promotes TNFα-induced apoptosis and G1/S phase arrest via regulation of ERβ.

Effects of Korean red ginseng on three-dimensional trabecular bone microarchitecture and strength in growing rats: Comparison with changes due to jump exercise

Objectives

The preventive effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on bone loss and microarchitectural deterioration have been extensively studied in animal models. However, few results have been reported for the effects of KRG on the trabecular microarchitecture as compared to changes resulting from physiological stimuli such as exercise load. We compared the effects of KRG and jump exercise on improvements in trabecular microarchitecture and strength of the distal femoral metaphysis in rats.

Methods and materials

Eleven-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into sedentary (CON), KRG-administered (KRG), and jump-exercised (JUM) groups. Rats were orally administered KRG extract (200 mg/kg body weight/day) once a day for 6 weeks. The jump exercise protocol comprised 10 jumps/day, 5 days/week at a jump height of 40 cm. We used microcomputed tomography to assess the microarchitecture, volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), and fracture load as predicted by finite element analysis at the right distal femoral metaphysis. The left femur was used for the quantitative bone histomorphometry measurements.

Results

Although KRG produced significantly higher trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) than CON, BV/TV was even higher in JUM than in KRG, and differences in vBMD and fracture load were only significant between JUM and CON. In terms of trabecular microarchitecture, KRG increased trabecular number and connectivity, whereas the JUM group showed increased trabecular thickness. Bone resorption showed significant decrease by JUM and KRG group. In contrast, bone formation showed significant increase by JUM group.

Conclusions

These data show that KRG has weak but significant positive effects on bone mass and suggest that the effects on trabecular microarchitecture differ from those of jump exercise. The effects of combined KRG and jump exercise on trabecular bone mass and strength should be investigated.

Effects of growth years on ginsenoside biosynthesis of wild ginseng and cultivated ginseng

BACKGROUND

Ginsenoside, as the main active substance in ginseng, has the function of treating various diseases. However, the ginsenosides content of cultivated ginseng is obviously affected by the growth years, but the molecular mechanism is not clear. In addition, there are significant differences in morphology and physiology between wild ginseng and cultivated ginseng, and the effect of growth years on ginsenoside synthesis not yet understood in wild ginseng.

RESULTS

Transcriptome sequencing on the roots, stems and leaves of cultivated ginseng and wild ginseng with different growth years was performed in this study, exploring the effect of growth years on gene expression in ginseng. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from comparison groups in cultivated ginseng was higher than that in wild ginseng. The result of weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) showed that growth years significantly affected the gene expression of Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis pathway in cultivated ginseng, but had no effects in wild ginseng. Furthermore, the growth years had significant effects on the genes related to ginsenoside synthesis in cultivated ginseng, and the effects were different in the roots, stems and leaves. However, it had little influence on the expression of genes related to ginsenoside synthesis in wild ginseng. Growth years might affect the expression of genes for ginsenoside synthesis by influencing the expression of these transcription factors (TFs), like my elob lastosis (MYB), NAM, ATAF1 and 2, and CUC2 (NAC), APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor (AP2/ERF), basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and WRKY, etc., thereby affecting the content of ginsenosides.

CONCLUSIONS

This study complemented the gaps in the genetic information of wild ginseng in different growth periods and helped to clarify the potential mechanisms of the effect of growth years on the physiological state in wild ginseng and cultivated ginseng, which also provided a new insight into the mechanism of ginsenoside regulation.

Insight on structural modification, biological activity, structure-activity relationship of PPD-type ginsenoside derivatives

Ginsenosides, characterized by triterpenoid, are one of the active components of ginseng. Among them, PPD-type ginsenosides have potent and diverse pharmacological activities, while the effective applications and clinical studies are limited by the poor stability, water solubility and oral bioavailability. In this review, we have attempted to demonstrate the structural-activity relationship of chemical modifications on the dammarane-type skeleton and the C-17 side chain, noting that certain structurally modified derivatives exhibit satisfactory pharmacological activity. This review will provide ideas for the design and synthesis of novel PPD derivatives, and valuable help for the further study of PPD derivatives to make it realize clinical application.

Hypobaric hypoxia triggers pyroptosis in the retina via NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Hypobaric hypoxia initiates multiple impairment to the retina and is the major cause contributing to retinal function deficits such as high altitude retinopathy. However, the underlying molecular mechanism has not been clearly defined so far and remains to be clarified. In the present study, we have undertaken an approach to mimic 5000 m altitude with a low-pressure oxygen cabin and evaluated if pyroptosis is involved in the mechanisms by which hypobaric hypoxia triggers retinal impairment. We also used Radix Astragali seu Hedysari Compound (RAHC) to determine whether RAHC is capable of exerting protective effects on the hypobaric hypoxia-induced retinal dysfunction. We found that hypobaric hypoxia stress activated inflammasome complex through increasing NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase activation and recruitment domain (ASC) protein levels. The protein expression of gasdermin-D, a master executor of pyroptosis, and NADPH oxidase 4, which is regarded as a main generator of reactive oxygen species (ROS), also elevated upon hypobaric hypoxia exposure. In addition, hypobaric hypoxia induced a significant increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines expression including interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 in the rat retina. Our results indicate that hypobaric hypoxia initiates pyroptosis in the rat retina. RAHC attenuates hypobaric hypoxia-triggered retinal pyroptosis via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The involvement of pyroptosis pathway in the retina in response to hypobaric hypoxia supports a novel insight to clarify the pathogenesis of hypobaric hypoxia-induced retinal impairment and provides a feasibility of inflammasome modulation for preserving retinal function.

Ginsenoside Rb2: A review of pharmacokinetics and pharmacological effects

Ginsenoside Rb2 is an active protopanaxadiol-type saponin, widely existing in the stem and leave of ginseng. Rb2 has recently been the focus of studies for pharmaceutical properties. This paper provides an overview of the preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetics for Rb2, which exhibit poor absorption, rapid tissue distribution and slow excretion through urine. Pharmacological studies indicate a beneficial role of Rb2 in the prevention and treatment of diabetes, obesity, tumor, photoaging, virus infection and cardiovascular problems. The underlying mechanism is involved in an inhibition of oxidative stress, ROS generation, inflammation and apoptosis via regulation of various cellular signaling pathways and molecules, including AKT/SHP, MAPK, EGFR/SOX2, TGF-β1/Smad, SIRT1, GPR120/AMPK/HO-1 and NF-κB. This work would provide a new insight into the understanding and application of Rb2. However, its therapeutic effects have not been clinically evaluated. Further studies should be aimed at the clinical treatment of Rb2.

The effects of ginseng on the metabolic syndrome: An updated review

Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors including high blood glucose, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, and high body weight. It can increase the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, which are the important reasons for death around the world. Nowadays, there are numerous demands for herbal medicine because of less harmful effects and more useful effects in comparison with chemical options. Ginseng is one of the most famous herbs used as a drug for a variety of disorders in humans. The antihyperlipidemia, antihypertension, antihyperglycemic, and anti-obesity effects of ginseng and its active constituents such as ginsenosides have been shown in different studies. In this review article, the different in vitro, in vivo, and human studies concerning the effects of ginseng and its active constituents in metabolic syndrome have been summarized. According to these studies, ginseng can control metabolic syndrome and related diseases.

Ginseng berry concentrate prevents colon cancer via cell cycle, apoptosis regulation, and inflammation-linked Th17 cell differentiation

The Asian ginseng root (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is a very commonly used herbal medicine worldwide. Ginseng fruit, including the berry (or pulp) and seed, is also valuable for several health conditions including immunostimulation and cancer chemoprevention. In this study, the anticancer and anti-proliferative effects of the extracts of ginseng berry and seed were evaluated. The ginsenosides in the ginseng berry concentrate (GBC) and ginseng seed extract (GSE) were analyzed. We then evaluated their anti-colorectal cancer potentials, including antiproliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptotic induction. Further investigation consisted of the berry's adaptive immune responses, such as the actions on the differentiation of T helper cells Treg, Th1, and Th17. The major constituents in GBC were ginsenosides Re and Rd, which can be compared to those in the root. The GBC significantly inhibited colon cancer cell growth, and its anti-proliferative effect involved mechanisms including G2/M cell cycle arrest via upregulation of cyclin A and induction of apoptosis via regulation of apoptotic related gene expressions. GBC also downregulated the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. For the adaptive immune responses, GBC did not influence Th1 and Treg cell differentiation but significantly inhibited Th17 cell differentiation and thus regulated the balance of Th17/Treg for adaptive immunity. Although no ginsenoside was detected in the GSE, interestingly, it obviously enhanced colon cancer cell proliferation with the underlined details to be determined. Our results suggested that GBC is a promising dietary supplement for cancer chemoprevention and immunomodulation.

Alteration of the Soil Microbiota in Ginseng Rusty Roots: Application of Machine Learning Algorithm to Explore Potential Biomarkers for Diagnostic and Predictive Analytics

Conceptualization to utilize microbial composition as a prediction tool has been widely applied in human cohorts, yet the potential capacity of soil microbiota as a diagnostic tool to predict plant phenotype remains unknown. Here, we collected 130 soil samples which are 54 healthy controls and 76 ginseng rusty roots (GRRs). Alpha diversities including Shannon, Simpson, Chao1, and phylogenetic diversity were significantly decreased in GRR (P < 0.05). Moreover, we identified 30 potential biomarkers. The optimized markers were obtained through fivefold cross-validation on a support vector machine and yielded a robust area under the curve of 0.856. Notably, evaluation of multi-index classification performance including accuracy, F1-score, and Kappa coefficient also showed robust discriminative capability (90.99%, 0.903, and 0.808). Taken together, our results suggest that the disease affects the microbial community and offers the potential ability of soil microbiota to identifying farms at the risk of GRR.

Rh2-enriched Korean ginseng (Ginseng Rh2+) inhibits tumor growth and development of metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

While there are multiple studies on the anti-tumoral effects of Panax ginseng as active ingredients (one or more ginsenosides derived from the extract) or as a whole plant extract, there is a lack of studies to assess the effects Panax ginseng's of active ingredients combined with the whole plant extract. Our aim was to study the effect of whole ginseng, enriched in the anti-tumoral Rh2 component and other ginsenosides (Ginseng Rh2+), on the metastatic capacity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

We evaluated the effects of Ginseng Rh2+ on survival, migration and motility, induction of apoptosis, and expression of its apoptosis-related proteins in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in vitro and on primary tumor growth and metastatic capacity in a syngeneic mouse lung cancer model in vivo. The effects of Ginseng Rh2+ on NSCLC cells were studied in vitro using: a colorimetric tetrazolium salt (XTT) assay, annexin V-FITC/PI, western blotting, wound healing motility assay, Transwell migration and cell adhesion assays. In vivo, mice were inoculated with Lewis mouse lung carcinoma cells subcutaneously to evaluate local tumor growth, or intravenously to evaluate the effects of Ginseng Rh2+ on development of experimental metastases. Mice were treated by intraperitoneal administration of Ginseng Rh2+ (0.005-0.5 g kg^-1) on days 6, 10, and 14 after tumor injection.

RESULTS

We found that Ginseng Rh2+ increased the apoptosis of NSCLC cells in vitro, demonstrating dose dependent down-regulation of the Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic gene and concurrent up-regulation of the Bax pro-apoptotic gene. Ginseng Rh2+ inhibited the tumor cells' capacity to attach to the ECM-related matrix and reduced cell migration. In vivo, Ginseng Rh2+ inhibited local tumor growth and reduced the development of experimental lung metastases.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that Ginseng Rh2+ may potentially be used as a therapeutic agent for treatment of NSCLC.

Ginseng for erectile dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Dietary supplements with ginseng, or ginseng alone, are widely used for a broad range of conditions, including erectile dysfunction. Ginseng is particularly popular in Asian countries. Individual studies assessing its effects are mostly small, of uneven methodological quality and have unclear results.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of ginseng on erectile dysfunction.

SEARCH METHODS

We conducted systematic searches on multiple electronic databases, including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, and loco-regional databases of east Asia, from their inceptions to 30 January 2021 without restrictions on language and publication status. Handsearches included conference proceedings.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials that evaluated the use of any type of ginseng as a treatment for erectile dysfunction compared to placebo or conventional treatment.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently classified studies and three authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias in the included studies. We rated the certainty of evidence according to the GRADE approach.

MAIN RESULTS

We included nine studies with 587 men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, aged from 20 to 70 years old. The studies all compared ginseng to placebo. We found only short-term follow-up data (up to 12 weeks).  Primary outcomes Ginseng appears to have a trivial effect on erectile dysfunction when compared to placebo based on the Erectile Function Domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15 instrument (scale: 1 to 30, higher scores imply better function; mean difference [MD] 3.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.79 to 5.25; I² = 0%; 3 studies; low certainty evidence) assuming a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 4.  Ginseng probably also has a trivial effect on erectile function when compared to placebo based on the IIEF-5 instrument (scale: 1 to 25, higher scores imply better function; MD 2.39, 95% CI 0.89 to 3.88; I² = 0%; 3 studies; moderate certainty evidence) assuming a MCID of 5. Ginseng may have little to no effect on adverse events compared to placebo (risk ratio [RR] 1.45, 95% CI 0.69 to 3.03; I² = 0%; 7 studies; low certainty evidence). Based on 86 adverse events per 1000 men in the placebo group, this would correspond to 39 more adverse events per 1000 (95% CI 27 fewer to 174 more). Secondary outcomes Ginseng may improve men's self-reported ability to have intercourse (RR 2.55, 95% CI 1.76 to 3.69; I² = 23%; 6 studies; low certainty evidence). Based on 207 per 1000 men self-reporting the ability to have intercourse in the placebo group, this would correspond to 321 more men (95% CI 158 more to 558 more) per 1000 self-reporting the ability to have intercourse. Ginseng may have a trivial effect on men's satisfaction with intercourse based on the Intercourse Satisfaction Domain of the IIEF-15 (scale: 0 to 15, higher scores imply greater satisfaction; MD 1.19, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.97; I²=0%; 3 studies; low certainty evidence) based on a MCID of 25% improvement from baseline. It may also have a trivial effect on men's satisfaction with intercourse based on item 5 of the IIEF-5 (scale: 0 to 5, higher scores imply more satisfaction; MD 0.60, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.18; 1 study; low certainty evidence) based on a MCID of 25% improvement from baseline. No study reported quality of life as an outcome. We found no trial evidence to inform comparisons to other treatments for erectile dysfunction, such as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. We were unable to conduct any predefined subgroup analyses.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Based on mostly low certainty evidence, ginseng may only have trivial effects on erectile function or satisfaction with intercourse compared to placebo when assessed using validated instruments. Ginseng may improve men's self-reported ability to have intercourse. It may have little to no effect on adverse events. We found no trial evidence comparing ginseng to other agents with a more established role in treating erectile dysfunction, such as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors.

Network-based modeling of herb combinations in traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been practiced for thousands of years for treating human diseases. In comparison to modern medicine, one of the advantages of TCM is the principle of herb compatibility, known as TCM formulae. A TCM formula usually consists of multiple herbs to achieve the maximum treatment effects, where their interactions are believed to elicit the therapeutic effects. Despite being a fundamental component of TCM, the rationale of combining specific herb combinations remains unclear. In this study, we proposed a network-based method to quantify the interactions in herb pairs. We constructed a protein–protein interaction network for a given herb pair by retrieving the associated ingredients and protein targets, and determined multiple network-based distances including the closest, shortest, center, kernel, and separation, both at the ingredient and at the target levels. We found that the frequently used herb pairs tend to have shorter distances compared to random herb pairs, suggesting that a therapeutic herb pair is more likely to affect neighboring proteins in the human interactome. Furthermore, we found that the center distance determined at the ingredient level improves the discrimination of top-frequent herb pairs from random herb pairs, suggesting the rationale of considering the topologically important ingredients for inferring the mechanisms of action of TCM. Taken together, we have provided a network pharmacology framework to quantify the degree of herb interactions, which shall help explore the space of herb combinations more effectively to identify the synergistic compound interactions based on network topology.

Ginsenoside Absorption Rate and Extent Enhancement of Black Ginseng (CJ EnerG) over Red Ginseng in Healthy Adults

Red ginseng (RG) and black ginseng (BG, CJ EnerG) were prepared from fresh ginseng using one and nine cycles of steaming and drying, respectively. This process reduces the molecular weight (MW) of ginsenoside-active compounds in ginseng by removing sugar moieties from their dammaranes. We compared the pharmacokinetic characteristics of ginsenosides between BG comprising mainly low-MW ginsenosides (Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, and Rh1) and RG that predominantly contains high-MW ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, and Rg1). The safety profiles and tolerability were also studied using a randomized, double-blind, single-dose, crossover clinical trial. A combination of Rb1, Rg1, and Rg3, well-known representative and functional RG components, exhibited a 1 h faster absorption rate (T_max) and 58% higher exposure (24 h area under the concentration–time curve, AUC₂₄) in BG than in RG. Furthermore, the combination of Rg3, Rg5, and Rk1, the major and most efficient components in BG, displayed 824% higher absorption (AUC₂₄) in BG than in RG. The total ginsenoside showed a 5 h rapid intestinal absorption (T_max) and 79% greater systemic exposure (AUC₂₄) in BG than in RG. No clinically significant findings were observed in terms of safety or tolerability. Thus, BG extract was more effective than RG extract.

Thinking About Pathomechanisms and Current Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction-"The Stanley Beamish Problem." Review, Recommendations, and Proposals

INTRODUCTION

Up to 50% of all men over 50 years of age suffer from erectile dysfunction. Since the late 1990s erectile dysfunction has been treated mostly with phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5I). Over the past 20 years, numerous scientific findings on the development of erectile dysfunction have been collected, which have so far received little attention in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to review the existing medical literature on erectile dysfunction regarding physiology, pathophysiology, and especially therapeutic options beyond treatment with PDE5I and to enable a more effective and especially sustainable treatment for erectile dysfunction.

METHODS

A literature review was performed by using PubMed from 1985 to 2020 regarding the physiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of erectile dysfunction.

RESULTS

Since the end of the 1990s an enormous amount of knowledge has been gained about the physiology/pathophysiology of erection/erectile dysfunction. Based on these findings, numerous physical, drug, and holistic therapeutic options (beyond the application of PDE5I) have been developed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, these are still relatively rarely used in the therapeutic concept of erectile dysfunction today.

CONCLUSION

Based on scientific findings of the last 20 years, there are numerous therapeutic approaches, including lifestyle modification, specific pelvic floor exercises, shock wave treatment, and the application of different supplements. The long-term treatment of erectile dysfunction should now go beyond the purely symptomatic use of PDE5I. W-D Beecken, M Kersting, W Kunert, et al. Thinking About Pathomechanisms and Current Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction-"The Stanley Beamish Problem." Review, Recommendations, and Proposals. Sex Med Rev 2021;9:445-463.

Comparative Polyphenol Composition, Antioxidant and Anticorrosion Properties in Various Parts of Panax ginseng Extracted in Different Solvents

Panax ginseng C.A. (P. ginseng) Meyer has been in use since ancient times for its therapeutic activities. Although several studies have investigated the roles of phytoconstituents in human and animal health, no comparative studies have been conducted to test the efficacy of P.ginseng leaf, fruit and root. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the antioxidant and anticorrosion activities of ginseng prepared using five different solvents. The methanolic fruit extract showed comparatively good activity in all assays. The total phenolic content (TPC) was higher in fruit (95.21 mg/g), followed by leaf (39.21 mg/g) extracted in methanol solvent compared other solvents. The total flavonoid content (TFC) of fruit methanolic extract was 50.21 mg/g, which was followed by fruit extracted in ethanol (41.33 mg/g). The same phenomenon was observed in all antioxidant studies. Through Ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC), the presence of 23 phenolic components categorized as hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids and a few other groups that play a vital role in antioxidation was identified. Phenols such as chlorogenic acid (1002.2 μg/g), gentisic acid (854.21 μg/g) and rutin (165.32 μg/g) were found in higher amounts in fruit whereas leaf showed significant amounts of m-coumaric acid (185.32 μg/g) and p-coumaric acid (125.24 μg/g). The anti-corrosive property of the fruit extract of the ginseng with methanol as a solvent was analyzed for a copper specimen exposed to 1 M HCl medium and found to have 96% corrosion inhibition efficiency at a 1000-ppm concentration. The smooth surface of the specimen exposed to corrosive media shown in a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) image confirms that the specimen was protected from corrosion, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) spectra show that the loss of Cu is reduced in inhibited metal surface. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images and surface roughness factor also validate the corrosion inhibition characteristic of ginseng plant extract.

Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MS) refers to a clustering of at least three of the following medical conditions: high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, low high-density lipoprotein level, and high serum triglycerides. MS is related to a wide range of diseases which includes obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. There remains an ongoing need for improved treatment strategies for MS. The most important risk factors are dietary pattern, genetics, old age, lack of exercise, disrupted biology, medication usage, and excessive alcohol consumption, but pathophysiology of MS has not been completely identified. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) refers to steamed/dried ginseng, traditionally associated with beneficial effects such as anti-inflammation, anti-fatigue, anti-obesity, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer effects. KRG has been often used in traditional medicine to treat multiple metabolic conditions. This paper summarizes the effects of KRG in MS and related diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on experimental research and clinical studies.

Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Cholesterol Metabolites in Postmenopausal Women with Hypercholesterolemia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Korean red ginseng (KRG) is known to exert beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. Meanwhile, reduced estrogen at menopause has been shown to have various adverse impacts on cardiovascular risk factors, including blood lipids. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of KRG on cholesterol metabolites, which are surrogate markers of cholesterol absorption and biosynthesis, in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia. The present study is an exploratory study which used data from a 4-week, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical pilot study in 68 postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia. Patients received KRG (2 g) or placebo (2 g) once daily. The primary endpoints were changes in the levels of nine sterols. Serum sterols were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS analysis. Among the sterols, reduction in cholesterol level were significantly larger in the KRG group than in the placebo group (the changes: −148.3 ± 261.1 nmol/mL in the ginseng group vs. −23.0 ± 220.5 nmol/mL in the placebo group, p = 0.039). Additionally, changes in 7-hydroxycholesterol (7-OHC) were significantly larger in the KRG group than in the placebo group (the changes: −0.05 ± 0.09 nmol/mL in the ginseng group vs. −0.002 ± 0.1 nmol/mL in the placebo group, p = 0.047). Oxysterols, cholesterol derivates, have been known to play a role in chronic inflammation diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. KRG improves sterol metabolism by decreasing cholesterol and 7-OHC levels in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia.

Study on the Mechanism of Ginseng in the Treatment of Lung Adenocarcinoma Based on Network Pharmacology

Background

Ginseng, a traditional Chinese medicine, was used to prevent and treat many diseases such as diabetes, inflammation, and cancer. In recent years, there are some reports about the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma with ginseng monomer compounds, but there is no systematic study on the related core targets and mechanism of ginseng in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma up to now. Therefore, this study systematically and comprehensively studied the molecular mechanism of ginseng in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma based on network pharmacology and further proved the potential targets by A549 cell experiments for the first time.

Methods

The targets of disease and drug were obtained from Gene database. Subsequently, the compound-target network was constructed, and the core potential targets were screened out by plug-in into Cytoscape. Furthermore, the core targets and mechanism of ginseng in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma were verified by MTT test, cell scratch test, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR.

Results

1791 disease targets and 144 drug targets were obtained by searching the Gene database. Meanwhile, 15 core targets were screened out: JUN, MAPK8, PTGS2, CASP3, VEGFA, MMP9, AKT1, TNF, FN1, FOS, MMP782, IL-1β, IL-2, ICAM1, and HMOX1. The results of cell experiments indicate that ginseng could treat lung adenocarcinoma by cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. In addition, according to the results of the 15 core targets by qRT-PCR, JUN, IL-1β, IL-2, ICAM1, HMOX1, MMP9, and MMP2 are upregulated core targets, while PTGS2 and TNF are downregulated core targets.

Conclusion

This study systematically and comprehensively studied 15 core targets by network pharmacology for the first time. Subsequently, it is verified that 9 core targets for ginseng treatment of lung adenocarcinoma, namely, JUN, IL-1β, IL-2, ICAM1, HMOX1, MMP9, MMP2, PTGS2, and TNF, are closely related to the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells. This study has reference value for the clinical application of ginseng in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.

Ginsenoside Compound K: Insights into Recent Studies on Pharmacokinetics and Health-Promoting Activities

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is an herb popular for its medicinal and health properties. Compound K (CK) is a secondary ginsenoside biotransformed from major ginsenosides. Compound K is more bioavailable and soluble than its parent ginsenosides and hence of immense importance. The review summarizes health-promoting in vitro and in vivo studies of CK between 2015 and 2020, including hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, anti-aging/skin protective, and others. Clinical trial data are minimal and are primarily based on CK-rich fermented ginseng. Besides, numerous preclinical and clinical studies indicating the pharmacokinetic behavior of CK, its parent compound (Rb1), and processed ginseng extracts are also summarized. With the limited evidence available from animal and clinical studies, it can be stated that CK is safe and well-tolerated. However, lower water solubility, membrane permeability, and efflux significantly diminish the efficacy of CK and restrict its clinical application. We found that the use of nanocarriers and cyclodextrin for CK delivery could overcome these limitations as well as improve the health benefits associated with them. However, these derivatives have not been clinically evaluated, thus requiring a safety assessment for human therapy application. Future studies should be aimed at investigating clinical evidence of CK.

Bioactive C17 and C18 Acetylenic Oxylipins from Terrestrial Plants as Potential Lead Compounds for Anticancer Drug Development

Bioactive C₁₇ and C₁₈ acetylenic oxylipins have shown to contribute to the cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and potential anticancer properties of terrestrial plants. These acetylenic oxylipins are widely distributed in plants belonging to the families Apiaceae, Araliaceae, and Asteraceae, and have shown to induce cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis of cancer cells in vitro and to exert a chemopreventive effect on cancer development in vivo. The triple bond functionality of these oxylipins transform them into highly alkylating compounds being reactive to proteins and other biomolecules. This enables them to induce the formation of anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective phase 2 enzymes via activation of the Keap1–Nrf2 signaling pathway, inhibition of proinflammatory peptides and proteins, and/or induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress, which, to some extent, may explain their chemopreventive effects. In addition, these acetylenic oxylipins have shown to act as ligands for the nuclear receptor PPARγ, which play a central role in growth, differentiation, and apoptosis of cancer cells. Bioactive C₁₇ and C₁₈ acetylenic oxylipins appear, therefore, to constitute a group of promising lead compounds for the development of anticancer drugs. In this review, the cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of C₁₇ and C₁₈ acetylenic oxylipins from terrestrial plants are presented and their possible mechanisms of action and structural requirements for optimal cytotoxicity are discussed.

A Systems Biological Approach to Understanding the Mechanisms Underlying the Therapeutic Potential of Red Ginseng Supplements against Metabolic Diseases

Red ginseng has been widely used in health-promoting supplements in Asia and is becoming increasingly popular in Western countries. However, its therapeutic mechanisms against most diseases have not been clearly elucidated. The aim of the present study was to provide the biological mechanisms of red ginseng against various metabolic diseases. We used a systems biological approach to comprehensively identify the component-target and target-pathway networks in order to explore the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of red ginseng against metabolic diseases. Of the 23 components of red ginseng with target, 5 components were linked with 37 target molecules. Systematic analysis of the constructed networks revealed that these 37 targets were mainly involved in 9 signaling pathways relating to immune cell differentiation and vascular health. These results successfully explained the mechanisms underlying the efficiency of red ginseng for metabolic diseases, such as menopausal symptoms in women, blood circulation, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia.

Efficacy and Safety of Common Ingredients in Aphrodisiacs Used for Erectile Dysfunction: A Review

INTRODUCTION

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to attain or sustain an erection for sexual intercourse. Affected men endorse difficulties with intimacy and feelings of guilt and shame. Although medical treatments are available, patients are reluctant to discuss ED with physicians and often use dietary supplements to attempt to treat their ED. As such, there is a need to better understand the effects of ingredients used in nutraceuticals for ED treatment.

OBJECTIVES

To summarize the literature on the efficacy and safety of the most common ingredients used in ED supplements.

METHODS

10 of the most common ingredients in ED supplements were reviewed using PubMed-indexed literature to assess their efficacy and safety in treating ED. Key findings were summarized to include historical use, active ingredients, prior animal studies, human studies, and toxicity.

RESULTS

Nutraceuticals used in ED treatment include a variety of ingredients. Although L-arginine is a safe supplement with clinical data supporting improved erectile function, limited data exist on the efficacy of other ingredients in the treatment of ED.

CONCLUSION

Despite the growing use of supplements for treatment of sexual dysfunction, ED supplements remain poorly studied, with limited data demonstrating efficacy of individual ingredients. Further study is required to definitively determine the efficacy of nutraceuticals in ED treatment. Srivatsav A, Balasubramanian A, Pathak UI, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Common Ingredients in Aphrodisiacs Used for Erectile Dysfunction: A Review. J Sex Med 2020;8:431-442.

Hepatoprotective effect of ultrasonicated ginseng berry extract on a rat mild bile duct ligation model

Background

The Panax ginseng berry extract (GBE) is well known to have an antidiabetic effect. The aim of this study is to evaluate and investigate the protective effect of ultrasonication-processed P. ginseng berry extract (UGBE) compared with GBE on liver fibrosis induced by mild bile duct ligation (MBDL) model in rats. After ultrasonication process, the composition ratio of ginsenoside in GBE was changed. The component ratio of ginsenosides Rh1, Rh4, Rg2, Rg3, Rk1, Rk3, and F4 in the extract was elevated.

Methods

In this study, the protective effect of the newly developed UGBE was evaluated on hepatotoxicity and neuronal damage in MBDL model. Silymarin (150 mg/kg) was used for positive control. UGBE (100 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg), GBE (250 mg/kg), and silymarin (150 mg/kg) were orally administered for 6 weeks after MBDL surgery.

Results

The MBDL surgery induced severe hepatotoxicity that leads to liver inflammation in rats. Also, the serum ammonia level was increased by MBDL surgery. However, the liver dysfunction of MBDL surgery–operated rats was attenuated by UGBE treatment via myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent Toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathways.

Conclusion

UGBE has a protective effect on liver fibrosis induced by MBDL in rats through inhibition of the TLR4 signaling pathway in liver.