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Planta Med 2002; 68(6): 497-500
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-32556
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Ginsenosides from Panax ginseng Differentially Regulate Lymphocyte Proliferation

Jae Youl Cho1, 2 , Ae Ra Kim3 , Eun Sook Yoo2, 4 , Kyong Up Baik2 , Myung Hwan Park2
  • 1Department of Immunology and Molecular Pathology, Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, University College London Medical School, London, UK
  • 2Department of Immunopharmacology, R & D center, Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Korea
  • 3College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Korea
  • 4Department of Pharmacology, Cheju National University Medical School, Korea
Further Information

Publication History

August 7, 2001

December 29, 2001

Publication Date:
01 July 2002 (online)

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Abstract

We have examined the immunosuppressive effects of representative ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Re and Rg1) from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer on CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte proliferation. Ginsenosides differentially modulated lymphocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A (Con A), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phytohemaglutinin (PHA) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). Thus, Rb1 and Re significantly enhanced Con A-induced lymphocyte proliferation, whereas Rg1 did not affect the proliferation. Interestingly, however, Rb2 strongly blocked Con A, LPS and PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation with the IC50 values of 21.8, 29.0 and 24.0 μM, respectively. Moreover, Rb2 inhibited Con A-stimulated IL-2 production with an IC50 of 13.3 μM. In the IL-2-stimulated CD8+ T cell (CTLL-2) proliferation assay, Re and Rg1 showed strong suppressive effects with IC50 values of 57.5 and 64.7 μM, respectively. In contrast, neither Rb1 nor Rb2 did inhibit CTLL-2 cell proliferation at tested concentrations. These results suggest that ginsenosides from P. ginseng may modulate lymphocyte proliferation in a different manner.

Key words

Panax ginseng - Araliaceae - ginsenosides - interleukin-2 - lymphocyte proliferation

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Dr. Jae Youl Cho

Department of Pathology, Box 8118

Washington University School of Medicine


660 S. Euclid, St. Louis, MO 63110-1093

USA

Email: jaecho@pathbox.wustl.edu

Fax: +1-314-747-4888