Rice-Fried and Sun-Dried Ginseng: A Comparative Study of Chemical Composition and Protective Effects Against...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Gastroenterology and Immunology
• Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

• Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a traditional Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcerative colitis (UC) properties.
• Rice-frying ginseng (RFG) processing is hypothesized to enhance its therapeutic effects by enriching rare ginsenosides.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the chemical composition of RFG and sun-dried ginseng (SDG).
• To evaluate the protective effects of RFG against UC in vitro and in vivo.
• To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of RFG's therapeutic action.

Main Methods:

• Chemical profiling of RFG and SDG using LC-MS and MS-DIAL.
• In vitro evaluation using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Caco-2 cells.
• In vivo assessment using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mouse model.
• Metabolomics, network pharmacology, and Western blotting analyses.

Main Results:

• Rice-frying significantly altered ginseng's chemical composition, with 31 compounds increasing and 33 decreasing.
• RFG demonstrated enhanced protection in Caco-2 cells and DSS-induced UC mice, improving gut barrier integrity and reducing inflammation.
• RFG modulated gut microbiota, altered lipid metabolism, and inhibited PI3K-Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

• RFG exhibits stronger anti-inflammatory and anti-UC effects than SDG.
• RFG's efficacy is linked to its altered chemical profile, modulation of gut microbiota and lipid metabolism, and inhibition of key inflammatory signaling pathways.
• RFG represents a promising therapeutic agent for ulcerative colitis.