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Protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides differentially modulate type 1 and type 2 cytokines production from murine splenocytes.

Yu JL, Dou DQ, Chen XH, Yang HZ, Guo N, Cheng GF

Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Xuan Wu District, 100050 Beijing, P. R. China.

Seven protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides and their aglycones including PPT, PT, -Re, -Rg (1), -F (1), -Rh (1), 20(R)-Rh (1) which are closely related in structure were studied for their effects on type 1 and type 2 cytokines production from murine splenocytes and their related mechanisms were examined. The results indicate that PPT, PT and ginsenoside-Re show hardly any or weak effects on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced production of IFN-gamma and IL-4. Ginsenoside-Rh (1) and 20(R)-Rh (1) induce a Con A-induced type 1 cytokine pattern by increasing the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12), the expression of IFN-gamma, T-bet and enhancing NF-kappaB DNA binding activity. In contrast ginsenosides-Rg (1) and -F (1) cause a Con A-induced type 2 cytokines response by increasing the expression of IL-4, GATA-3 and enhancing NF-kappaB DNA binding activity. Thus, these protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides have different immunomodulatory effects, which might explain the complex immunomodulatory effect of Panax ginseng.

Published 16 March 2005 in Planta Med, 71(3): 202-7.
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