The Impact of Gut Microbiome on the Pharmacokinetics of Ginsenosides Rd and Rg3 in Mice after Oral Administration of Red Ginseng

Metabolic characteristics of ginsenosides from Panax ginseng in rat feces mediated by gut microbiota

Ginsenosides in Panax ginseng are regarded to be functional ingredients for diverse pharmacological effects and orally administrated with very low absorption in the gastrointestinal tract to be metabolized by gut microbiota. However, in vivo metabolic characteristics of ginsenosides mediated by gut microbiota are not well-known. This study aimed to explore the metabolic profiles of ginsenosides in rat feces mediated by gut microbiota. Ginsenosides and metabolites were identified and relatively quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS). As a result, eighty-four metabolites were identified in the normal control rat feces, while only thirty intermediates were found with very low yields in the pseudo-germ-free (GF) group. Similarly, the main bioconversion pathways of ginsenosides in vivo were the same deglycosylation reaction mediated by gut microbiota in vitro. The findings demonstrated significant differences in metabolic profiles between the normal control and pseudo-GF rats, which implied gut microbiota played an important role in the metabolism of ginsenosides.

Pharmacokinetic Profiling of Ginsenosides, Rb1, Rd, and Rg3, in Mice with Antibiotic-Induced Gut Microbiota Alterations: Implications for Variability in the Therapeutic Efficacy of Red Ginseng Extracts

Ginsenoside Rg3 is reported to contribute to the traditionally known diverse effects of red ginseng extracts. Significant individual variations in the therapeutic efficacy of red ginseng extracts have been reported. This study aimed to investigate the effect of amoxicillin on the pharmacokinetics of ginsenosides Rb1, Rd, and Rg3 in mice following the oral administration of red ginseng extracts. We examined the α-diversity and β-diversity of gut microbiota and conducted pharmacokinetic studies to measure systemic exposure to ginsenoside Rg3. We also analyzed the microbiome abundance and microbial metabolic activity involved in the biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1. Amoxicillin treatment reduced both the α-diversity and β-diversity of the gut microbiota and decreased systemic exposure to ginsenoside Rg3 in mice. The area under the curve (AUC) values for Rg3 in control and amoxicillin-treated groups were 247.7 ± 96.6 ng·h/mL and 139.2 ± 32.9 ng·h/mL, respectively. The microbiome abundance and microbial metabolic activity involved in the biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1 were also altered by amoxicillin treatment. The metabolizing activity was reduced from 0.13 to 0.05 pmol/min/mg on average. Our findings indicate that amoxicillin treatment potentially reduces the gut-microbiota-mediated metabolism of ginsenoside Rg3 in mice given red ginseng extracts, altering its pharmacokinetics. Gut microbiome variations may thus influence individual ginsenoside pharmacokinetics, impacting red ginseng extract's efficacy. Our results suggest that modulating the microbiome could enhance the efficacy of red ginseng.

The interaction between ginseng and gut microbiota

The importance of the gut microbiota to human health is attracting increasing attention. It is also involved in ginseng metabolism, mediating the bioactive metabolites of ginsenosides. In response, ginseng, known as the king of herbs, can regulate intestinal flora, including promoting probiotics and restricting the growth of harmful bacteria. Specifically, the interactions between ginseng or ginsenosides and gastrointestinal microbiota are complex. In this review, we summarized the effects of ginseng and ginsenosides on the composition of gut microbiota and discussed the gut microbiota-mediated biotransformation of ginsenosides. In particular, their therapeutic potential and clinical application in related diseases were also summarized.

Panax notoginseng-microbiota interactions: From plant cultivation to medicinal application

BACKGROUND

Microbiomes and their host plants are closely linked with each other; for example, the microbiome affects plant growth, fitness, nutrient uptake, stress tolerance and pathogen resistance, whereas the host plant supports the photosynthetically carbon-rich nutrition of the microbiome. The importance of the microbiome in plant‒soil ecosystems is unquestioned and has expanded to influence the medicinal application of some herbal plants via the gut microbiota.

PURPOSE

Herbal plant-microbiome interactions may provide novel knowledge to enhance the robustness of herbal plant crop performance and medicinal applications, which requires a systematic review and preceding discussion.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The interactions between Panax notoginseng and microorganisms (from soil to host) were reviewed from the literature. The terms "Panax notoginseng" and "microbiota" were used in combination with the keywords "microbiota/microbes", "bacteria/bacterium" or "fungi/fungus" or "endophyte", as well as our targeted bioactive phytochemicals, including saponins and ginsenosides.

RESULT

Our study focuses on the famous medicinal herb Panax notoginseng F. H. Chen and proposes that the microbiota is a crucial participant not only in the cultivation of this herbal plant but also in its medicinal application. We also summarize and discuss how these plant‒microbe co-associations shape the assembly of plant-related microbiomes and produce bioactive phytochemicals, as well as influence beneficial herbal traits, such as herbal plant health and pharmacology. In addition, we also highlight future directions.

CONCLUSION

The rhizosphere and endophytic microbiome of Panax notoginseng are indirectly or directly involved in plant health, biomass production, and the synthesis/biotransformation of plant secondary metabolites. Harnessing the microbiome to improve the quality of traditional Chinese medicine and improve the value of medicinal plants for human health is highly promising.

Insights into Recent Studies on Biotransformation and Pharmacological Activities of Ginsenoside Rd

It is well known that ginsenosides—major bioactive constituents of Panax ginseng—are attracting more attention due to their beneficial pharmacological activities. Ginsenoside Rd, belonging to protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenosides, exhibits diverse and powerful pharmacological activities. In recent decades, nearly 300 studies on the pharmacological activities of Rd—as a potential treatment for a variety of diseases—have been published. However, no specific, comprehensive reviews have been documented to date. The present review not only summarizes the in vitro and in vivo studies on the health benefits of Rd, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, ischemic stroke, immunoregulation, and other pharmacological effects, it also delves into the inclusion of potential molecular mechanisms, providing an overview of future prospects for the use of Rd in the treatment of chronic metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Although biotransformation, pharmacokinetics, and clinical studies of Rd have also been reviewed, clinical trial data of Rd are limited; the only data available are for its treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Therefore, clinical evidence of Rd should be considered in future studies.