1.The pseudoginsenoside F11 ameliorates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity without compromising its anti-tumor activity in vivo.
Wang H1, Kong L1, Zhang J2, Yu G3, Lv G2, Zhang F2, Chen X4, Tian J2, Fu F2. Sci Rep. 2014 May 16;4:4986. doi: 10.1038/srep04986.
The clinical use of cisplatin was severely limited by its associated nephrotoxicity. In this study, we investigated whether the pseudoginsenoside F11 had protective effects against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. To clarify it, one in vivo model of cisplatin-induced acute renal failure was performed. The results showed that pretreatment with F11 reduced cisplatin-elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, as well as ameliorated the histophathological damage. Further studies showed that F11 could suppress P53 activation, inverse the ratio of Bax/Bcl2 and the anti-oxidative and free radical levels induced by cisplatin, which in turn inhibited tubular cell apoptosis. Importantly, F11 enhanced rather than inhibited the anti-tumor activity of cispaltin in murine melanoma and Lewis lung cancer xenograft tumor models. Our findings suggested that administering F11 with cisplatin might alleviate the associated nephrotoxicity without compromising its therapeutic efficiency.
2.Pseudoginsenoside-F11 inhibits methamphetamine-induced behaviors by regulating dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons in the nucleus accumbens.
Fu K1, Lin H1,2, Miyamoto Y1, Wu C2, Yang J2, Uno K1, Nitta A3. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2016 Mar;233(5):831-40. doi: 10.1007/s00213-015-4159-8. Epub 2015 Dec 1.
RATIONALE: Although dependence to methamphetamine (METH) is associated with serious psychiatric symptoms and is a global health and social problem, no effective therapeutic approaches have been identified. Pseudoginsenoside-F11 (PF11) is an ocotillol-type saponin that is isolated from Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) and was shown to have neuroprotective effects to promote learning and memory and to antagonize the pharmacological effects of morphine. Furthermore, PF11 also shows protective effects against METH-induced neurotoxicity in mice. However, the effects of PF11 on METH-induced preference and dopamine (DA) release have not been defined.
3.Potential neuroprotective activity of Ginseng in Parkinson's disease: a review.
González-Burgos E1, Fernandez-Moriano C, Gómez-Serranillos MP. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2015 Mar;10(1):14-29. doi: 10.1007/s11481-014-9569-6. Epub 2014 Oct 29.
Parkinson's disease is a chronic, multifactorial and progressive neurologic condition that affects around six million people worldwide, normally over 60 years of age, and is characterized by neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The species of the genus Panax, popularly named as "Ginseng", are widely used as herbal remedies for their multiple beneficial effects, including their neurotherapeutic efficacies as protectors against major neurodegenerative diseases. The current review aims to report major findings and current knowledge on Ginseng and its major constituents as potential neuroprotective agents against Parkinson's disease, focusing on its mechanisms of action and molecular targets. For that purpose, it includes all research works published in MEDLINE/PubMed within the last decade by utilizing the following combination of the keywords: "Ginseng, ginsenosides, neuroprotection and Parkinson's disease". As reported, most of the studies have been carried out on isolated compounds rather than extracts.
4.[Screening of pregnane X receptor activation from ginsenosides].
Wang YG1, Liu HS, Zhang XX, Xiao Y, Lu BB, Ma ZC, Liang QD, Tang XL, Xiao CR, Tan HL, Zhang BL, Gao Y. Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2013 Jan;48(1):144-8.
In order to study effects of ginseng on the metabolism of drug belong to CYP3A4 substrate, screening of pregnane X receptor activation from ginsenosides was performed by reporter assay. Based on PXR-CYP3A stable translation cell lines, 13 ginsenosides were screened for pregnane X receptor activation by reporter assays, and RIF as the positive control. The effect of ginsenosides Rg1 onCYP3A4 mRNA expression was also investigated by RT-PCR. The PXR-CYP3A stable translation cell lines had good response to RIF, and the EC50 is 2.51 micro mol x L(-1). When the condition of final concentration was 10 micromol x L(-1), ginsenoside F2 and protopanaxatriol had moderate inductive effects on PXR. Panaxotriol, Rg2, pseudoginsenoside F11, Rg1, ginsenoside and Rb3 had inhibitory effects on PXR. Ginsenoside Rf1, Rg3, Rh2 and protopanaxdiol had no obvious effects on PXR. Rg1 down-regulated CYP3A4 mRNA expression in a concentration-dependent manner. Activation of pregnane X receptor by ginsenosides may influence the metabolism of drug belong to CYP3A4 substrate, and cause ginseng-drug interactions.