Abstract
The anti-pruritic effect of red ginseng (the steamed root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Araliaceae), a traditional medicine in Asian countries, was investigated in mouse scratching behavior models induced by either compound 48/80 or histamine. Red ginseng and its saponin fraction, but not its polysaccharide fraction, showed an anti-pruritic effect. Representative constituents in the saponin fraction, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2, inhibited scratching behavior and vascular permeability. These ginsenosides also inhibited the expression of TNF-α and IL-4 induced by IgE-antigen complex in RBL-2H3 cells, as well as acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. These results suggest that red ginseng and its ingredients, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2, may inhibit scratching behavior by inhibiting IL-4 and TNF-α expression, promoting membrane stability, and inhibiting Ca++ influx.
Abbreviations
PF:polysaccharide fraction
RG:red ginseng extract
SF:saponin fraction
RBL:rat basophilia leukemia
DNP-HSA:dinitrophenyl - human serum albumin
Key words
Panax ginseng
- Araliaceae - ginsenoside Rg3 - ginsenoside Rh2 - scratching behaviors - IL-4
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Prof. Dr. Dong-Hyun Kim
Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences
College of Pharmacy
Kyung-Hee University
1 Hoegi
Dongdaemun-ku
Seoul 130-701,
Korea
Fax: +82-2-957-5030
eMail: dhkim@khu.ac.kr
