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Planta Med 2009; 75(10): 1129-1133
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185508
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Induction of Chemoprotective Phase 2 Enzymes by Ginseng and its Components

Lawrence S. Lee1 , 6 , Katherine K. Stephenson2 , Jed W. Fahey2 , 3 , Teresa L. Parsons1 , Paul S. Lietman1 , 2 , Adriana S. Andrade4 , Xiaoguang Lei5 , Heedong Yun5 , Gaik H. Soon6 , Ping Shen6 , Samuel Danishefsky5 , Charles Flexner1 , 2
  • 1Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
  • 2Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
  • 3Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
  • 4Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
  • 5Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
  • 6Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Further Information

Publication History

received April 22, 2008 revised February 8, 2009

accepted February 16, 2009

Publication Date:
26 March 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Phase 2 detoxification enzymes protect against carcinogenesis and oxidative stress. Ginseng (Panax spp.) extracts and components were assayed for inducer activity of NQO1 (quinone reductase), a phase 2 enzyme, in Hepa1c1c7 cells. Ginseng extracts were analyzed for ginsenosides and panaxytriol. Korean red Panax ginseng extracts demonstrated the most potent phase 2 enzyme induction activity (76 900 U/g dried rhizome powder and 27 800 U/g for two similar preparations). The ginsenoside-enriched HT-1001 American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) extract was the next most potent inducer, with activity of 15 900 U/g, followed by raw American ginseng root with activity of 8700 U/g. Neither a polysaccharide-enriched extract of American ginseng nor a commercial white Panax ginseng preparation showed any inducer activity. Pure ginsenosides showed no inducer activity. Protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol, deglycosylated ginsenoside metabolic derivatives, showed potent induction activity (approximately 500 000 U/g each). Synthetic panaxytriol was over 10-fold more potent (induction potency 5 760 000 U/g). There was no correlation between ginsenoside content and phase 2 enzyme induction. The most potent inducing red ginseng extract also had the highest panaxytriol content, 120.8 µg/g. We found that ginseng induced NQO1 and that polyacetylenes are the most active components.

Key words

antioxidants - anticarcinogenic agents - NQO1 - Panax spp - Araliaceae family - panaxytriol

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Prof. Charles Flexner

Department of Medicine
Johns Hopkins University

600 N Wolfe St.

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USA

Phone: + 1 41 09 55 97 12

Fax: + 1 41 06 14 99 78

Email: flex@jhmi.edu