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Protective effect of ginseng on cytokine-induced apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells
1Food Function Research Division, Korea Food Research Institute, San 46-1 Baekhyun-dong, Bundang-gu, Songnam-si, Kyonggi-do 463-746, Republic of Korea. khyey@kfri.re.kr
Abstract:
The effects of ginseng extracts (GE) and several ginsenosides on cytokine-induced apoptosis were evaluated. In pancreatic beta-cell line MIN6N8 cells, the inhibitory effect of GE was significantly observed at 25-100 microg/mL: an 86-100% decrease of cytoplasmic DNA fragments quantified by an ELISA. The inhibitory effect of red ginseng (RG) extract was greater than that of white ginseng (WG) extract (IC50, 3.633 vs 4.942 microg/mL). Screening of several known ginsenosides, which were present in ginseng extracts at 0.124-1.19% (w/w) by HPLC analysis, revealed that the ginsenosides were responsible for the inhibition of beta-cell apoptosis at 0.1-1.0 microg/mL. The molecular mechanism, by which GE inhibited beta-cell apoptosis, appeared to involve the reduction of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, inhibition on p53/p21 expression, and inhibition on cleavage of caspases and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). This study suggests that ginseng may inhibit cytokine-induced apoptosis in beta-cells and, thus, may contribute via this action to the antidiabetic influence in type 1 diabetes.
Insights
Ginseng extracts significantly inhibit cytokine-induced apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells by reducing harmful molecules and proteins. This suggests ginseng
Area of Science:
- * Pharmacology
- * Molecular Biology
- * Immunology
Background:
- * Pancreatic beta-cell apoptosis is a key factor in type 1 diabetes development.
- * Cytokine-induced apoptosis contributes to beta-cell dysfunction and loss.
- * Ginseng is a traditional herbal medicine with potential therapeutic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To evaluate the effects of ginseng extracts (GE) and specific ginsenosides on cytokine-induced apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells.
- * To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying ginseng's protective effects.
- * To assess the potential of ginseng as an antidiabetic agent.
Main Methods:
- * Utilized MIN6N8 pancreatic beta-cell line.
- * Assessed apoptosis using ELISA for cytoplasmic DNA fragmentation.
- * Analyzed ginsenoside content via High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
- * Investigated molecular mechanisms including nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), p53/p21 expression, and caspase/PARP cleavage.
Main Results:
- * Ginseng extracts significantly inhibited beta-cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner (25-100 microg/mL), reducing DNA fragmentation by 86-100%.
- * Red ginseng extract showed a greater inhibitory effect than white ginseng extract.
- * Specific ginsenosides were identified as the active components responsible for apoptosis inhibition.
- * Molecular mechanisms involved reduced NO and ROS production, suppressed p53/p21 expression, and inhibited caspase and PARP cleavage.
Conclusions:
- * Ginseng extracts and ginsenosides effectively inhibit cytokine-induced apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells.
- * The protective effects are mediated through the reduction of oxidative stress and key apoptotic pathway proteins.
- * These findings support ginseng's potential role in the management of type 1 diabetes through beta-cell protection.
