Characterization of an Immune-Enhancing Polysaccharide Fraction Isolated from Heat-Processed Ginseng Derived from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer

Abstract

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (ginseng) has shown immune-enhancing activity in many studies. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the chemical properties of a polysaccharide fraction (SGP) purified from heat- processed ginseng and to evaluate its immune-enhancing activity using RAW264.7 macrophages. The results showed that SGP increased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophages. In addition, SGP increased mRNA expression and secretion of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Immunoblotting results showed that SGP increased the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB subunit p65 at 500 μg/mL and 1000 μg/mL. Taken together, SGP can activate macrophages through the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, and it may help maintain homeostasis during viral and bacterial infections.

The Immune-Stimulating and Anti-Diabetic Effects of Allium hookeri Leaves Grown in a Plant Factory with Artificial Lights in Immunosuppressed Obese C57BL/6 Mice

“…The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathways play an important role in the immune system [ 55 ]. Activated MAPK regulates cell growth, gene expression, and differentiation, and NF-κB is a vital expression factor that regulates genes involved in innate and adaptive immune responses [ 56 ]. Figure 7 shows the normalized protein expressions of IL-1β, JNK, c-Jun, p65, and iNOS in the thymus.…”

Characterization of macrophage activation after treatment with polysaccharides from ginseng according to heat processing

“…Heat treatment processing methods have been developed to enhance the pharmacological activity of natural products, so that the chemical composition changes depending on the heat treatment conditions [ 15 , 16 ]. For example, Rehmannia glutinosa , a traditional Korean medicine, is divided into dried Rehmannia root and Sukhwanghwang (steamed nine times) according to heat treatment processing conditions, and the stachyose and catalpol contents are reduced.…”

“…Red ginseng (RG) and heat-processed ginseng (HPG) were prepared by autoclaving WG (100 g) at 100 °C or 120 °C for 3 h, respectively, followed by oven drying at 60 °C. WG, RG, and HPG were extracted and fractionated according to our previously reported method, with minor modifications [ 16 ]. Briefly, dried WG, RG, and HPG (100 g each) were extracted three times with distilled water (500 mL) under reflux conditions for 3 h. Each aqueous extract was pooled and concentrated to a volume of 400 mL.…”

“…Monosaccharide composition was determined via the 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) derivatization method using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography system (UHPLC; Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan) equipped with a Shim-pack GIST column (2.1 × 100 mm, 2 μm particle size; Shimadzu). Derivatization and chromatographic analyses were performed following our previously reported method [ 16 ]. Briefly, 200 μg of polysaccharide extract was hydrolyzed with 100 μL of 2.5 M trifluoroacetic acid at 120 °C for 90 min in an autoclave.…”