The effect of Korean red ginseng on allergic inflammation in a murine model of allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Korean red ginseng (KRG) is reported to have anti-allergic properties, including beneficial effects on asthma and atopic dermatitis. However, its effect on allergic rhinitis has not been studied extensively. This study examined how KRG affected allergic inflammation of the nasal cavity in an allergic mouse model. A total of 40 Balb/c female mice were divided into four experimental groups according to treatment and allergic state: group 1 (G1), saline only; group 2 (G2), ovalbumin (OVA); group 3 (G3), OVA+KRG; and group 4 (G4), OVA+dexamethasone. Serum IgE levels were significantly lower in the KRG treatment group (G3) than in the allergic group (G2). However, serum IgG1 levels did not differ between G2 and G3. In the nasal lavage fluid, IL-4 and IL-5 levels were significantly lower in G3 than in G2 (p<0.05). H&E and Luna staining revealed that the eosinophil count was lower in G3 and G4 than in G2 (p<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining revealed that there were fewer IL-4-, IL- 5-, and MUC5AC-positive cells in G3 and G4 than in G2 (p<0.05). These results indicate that KRG reduces the nasal allergic inflammatory reaction in an allergic murine model by reducing Th2 cytokines.

Medicinal plants in traumatic brain injury: Neuroprotective mechanisms revisited

“…The main components of ginseng are ginseng oils, phytosterol, saponins, organic acids, nitrogenous substances, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals . It has been shown to have antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, anti‐inflammatory and antifatigue, and anti‐asthmatic activities …”

“…126 It has been shown to have antimicrobial, 127 antifungal, 128 antioxidant, 129 antiviral, 130 anti-inflammatory and antifatigue, 131 and anti-asthmatic activities. 132 Oral administration of ginsenoside Rb1, which is the main bioactive component in ginseng, significantly increased cell survival in the dentate gyrus and hippocampus, which could be potentially related to its effects on memory and learning. 133 In addition, ginsenoside Rg downregulated calpain I and caspase-3 and attenuated neuronal apoptosis induced by cerebral I/R injury.…”

Red ginseng represses hypoxia-induced cyclooxygenase-2 through sirtuin1 activation

“…Accumulating evidence also shows that ginsenosides are pharmacological compounds with anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects (Kim et al 2013a;Lee et al 2013). By using in vivo inflammatory models, the anti-inflammatory effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) have been reported (Jung et al 2013;Kim et al 2010).…”

Effects of Red and Fermented Ginseng and Ginsenosides on Allergic Disorders

“…The inhibitory effects of fRG in the treatment of allergic rhinitis were better than those of RG. Jung et al reported that RG suppressed IL-4 and IL-5 levels and eosinophil populations in the nasal lavage fluid of ovalbumin-sensitized mice [47]. RG increased ovalbumin-suppressed splenic IL-12 expression; IFN-γ-to-IL-4 ratio; and small intestinal CD8-, IFNγ-, and IgA-positive cell populations in ovalbumin-sensitized mice [48].…”