Ginsenoside Rd inhibits apoptosis following spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ginsenoside Rd has a clear neuroprotective effect against ischemic stroke. We aimed to verify the neuroprotective effect of ginsenoside Rd in spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury and explore its anti-apoptotic mechanisms. We established a spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury model in rats through the occlusion of the abdominal aorta below the level of the renal artery for 1 hour. Successfully established models were injected intraperitoneally with 6.25, 12.5, 25 or 50 mg/kg per day ginsenoside Rd. Spinal cord morphology was observed at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury. Intraperitoneal injection of ginsenoside Rd in ischemia/reperfusion injury rats not only improved hindlimb motor function and the morphology of motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord, but it also reduced neuronal apoptosis. The optimal dose of ginsenoside Rd was 25 mg/kg per day and the optimal time point was 5 days after ischemia/ reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis showed ginsenoside Rd dose-de- pendently inhibited expression of pro-apoptotic Caspase 3 and down-regulated the expression of the apoptotic proteins ASK1 and JNK in the spinal cord of rats with spinal cord ischemia/reper- fusion injury. These findings indicate that ginsenoside Rd exerts neuroprotective effects against spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury and the underlying mechanisms are achieved through the inhibition of ASK1-JNK pathway and the down-regulation of Caspase 3 expression.

Ginsenoside Rd Attenuates DNA Damage by Increasing Expression of DNA Glycosylase Endonuclease VIII-like Proteins after Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Background： Ginsenoside Rd （GSRd）, one of the main active ingredients in traditional Chinese herbal Panax ginseng, has been found to have therapeutic effects on ischemic stroke. However, the molecular mechanisms of GSRd＇s neuroprotective function remain unclear. Ischemic stroke-induced oxidative stress results in DNA damage, which triggers cell death and contributes to poor prognosis. Oxidative DNA damage is primarily processed by the base excision repair （BER） pathway. Three of the five major DNA glycosylases that initiate the BER pathway in the event of DNA damage from oxidation are the endonuclease VIII-like （NELL） proteins. This study aimed to investigate the effect of GSRd on the expression ofDNA glycosylases NEILs in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia. Methods： NEIL expression patterns were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in both normal and middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO） rat models. Survival rate and Zea-Longa neurological scores were used to assess the effect of GSRd administration on MCAO rats. Mitochondrial DNA （mtDNA） and nuclear DNA （nDNA） damages were evaluated by the way of real-time analysis of mutation frequency. NEIL expressions were measured in both messenger RNA （mRNA） and protein levels by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analysis. Apoptosis level was quantitated by the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP biotin nick end labeling assay. Results： We found that GSRd administration reduced mtDNA and nDNA damages, which contributed to an improvement in survival rate and neurological function; significantly up-regulated NEIL1 and NEIL3 expressions in both mRNA and protein levels of MCAO rats; and reduced cell apoptosis and the expression of cleaved caspase-3 in rats at 7 days after MCAO. Conclusions： Our results indicated that the neuroprotective function of GSRd for acute ischemic stroke might be partially explained by the up-regulation of NEILI and NEIL3 expressions.

Protective Effect of Ginsenoside Rd on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury through its Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidative Activity

Background:Inflammation and oxidation stress are key factors in the mechanism of acute lung injury(ALI).Therefore,suppression of the inflammatory response and oxidative stress could be a potential strategy to treat lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced ALI.Ginsenoside Rd(Rd),a natural Ginseng extract,alleviates inflammation and oxidative stress in several diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and cerebral ischemia,but its effect on ALI is still unclear.Aims and Objectives:To explore the protective effect of Rd on LPS-induced ALI and explored associated mechanisms.Materials and Methods:Mice were divided into five groups:A sham-operated group,a LPS-induced ALI group,and three LPS groups pretreated with Rd doses of 20,40,and 80 mg/kg,respectively.The pathological changes of lung,collagen deposition,pulmonary edema,inflammatory cytokine,oxidative stress and the expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB were detected.Results:The oral administration of Rd dose dependently attenuated histopathologic changes in the lung,lung edema,pulmonary collagen deposition,protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF),myeloperoxidase(MPO)activity,and inflammatory cell infiltration.In addition,Rd suppressed the LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin(IL)-6,and IL-1βin BALF.The productions of oxidative stress-related enzymes(catalase,superoxide dismutase,and glutathione peroxidase)in lung tissue were significantly upregulated by Rd administration.However,malondialdehyde and pulmonary MPO activity was reduced in the Rd-pretreated groups when compared with LPS-induced ALI group.Rd treatment also dose dependently suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB activation and TLR4 expression.Conclusion:Overall,these findings provide evidence that Rd pretreatment inhibits LPS-induced ALI through anti-inflammatory and antioxidative actions,suggesting that it could be a promising protective drug for LPS-induced ALI.

Identification of bioactive anti-angiogenic constitutes targeting tumor endothelial cells in Shenmai Injection using multidimensional pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVE To identify the bioactive anti-angiogenic constitutes targeting tumor endothelial cells(TECs)in Shenmai Injection(SMI).METHEODS For pharmacokinetic(PK)studies,Balb/c mice harboring human colorectal cancer(LoVo)xenografts were treated with SMI 10 mL·kg^-1 daily for 1 or 8 d.Multidimensional PK profiles of ginsenosides in plasma,subcutaneous tumors,and TECs were investigated.For PD studies,the tumor-bearing mice Intravital multi-photon imaging and CD31 immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the number of microves⁃sels and braches.Double staining of CD31 and α-SMA was performed to evaluate pericytes coverage ratios around vessels.ELISA was performed to determine the concentrations of VEGF and FGF in tumor tissues.For synergistic anti-tumor study,the tumor-bearing mice were treated with SMI 10 mL·kg^-1 daily,Rd 5 mg·kg^-1 daily with or without 5-FU 15 mg·kg^-1 every 3 d for 20 d.HPLC-MS/MS was used to determine the concentrations of 5-FU in plasma and tumor tissues.RESULTS SMI decreased the number of microvessels(P<0.05)and vessel branches(P<0.05)and improved vascular pericytes coverage(P<0.05).PK studies showed that the concentrations of protopanaxadiol-type(PPD)ginsenosides(Rb1,Rb2/Rb3,Rc,and Rd)in both,plasma and tumors,were higher than those of protopanaxatriol-type(Rg1 and Re)and oleanane-type(Ro)ginsenosides.Among PPD ginsenosides,Rd exhibited the greatest concentrations in tumors and TECs after repeated injection.In fact,the proportion of Rd in the detectable components of SMI gradually increased in the following order:SMI formula(2.8%),plasma(16.0%),tumor tissues(34.3%),and TECs(40.3%).In vivo bioactivity results showed that Rd 5 mg·kg^-1 daily significantly decreased the number of microvessels(P<0.05)and vessel branches(P<0.05)and increased pericytes coverage(P<0.05)while Rd 0.5 mg·kg^-1 daily,Rb1 and Rg1 had no significant effect on them.Rd 5 mg·kg^-1 suppressed the expression of VEGF and FGF simultaneously.Rd 5 mg·kg^-1 enhanced the antitumor effect of 5-FU via increasing the distribution of 5-FU in tumor tissues(P<0.05)in xenograft mice.CONCLUSION Ginsenoside Rd may be the major bioactive anti-angiogenic constituent targeting TECs after SMI treatment.

A Cocktail of Natural Compounds Holds Promise for New Immunotherapeutic Potential in Head and Neck Cancer

Objective: To obtain detailed understanding on the gene regulation of natural compounds in altering prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas(HNSC). Methods: Gene expression data of HNSC samples and peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) of HNSC patients were collected from Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO). Differential gene expression analysis of GEO datasets were achieved by the GEO2R tool. Common differentially expressed gerres(DEGs) were screened by comparing DEGs of HNSC with those of PBMCs. The combination was further analyzed for regulating pathways and biological processes that were affected. Results: Totally 110 DEGs were retrieved and identified to be involved in biological processes related to tumor regulation. Then 102 natural compounds were screened for a combination such that the expressions of all 110 commonly DEGs were altered. A combination of salidroside, ginsenoside Rd, oridonin, britanin, and scutellarein was chosen. A multifaceted, multi-dimensional tumor regression was showed by altering autophagy, apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis and inflammatory cytokines production. Conclusions: This study has helped develop a unique combination of natural compounds that will markedly reduce the propensity of development of drug resistance in tumors and immune evasion by tumors. The result is crucial to developing a combinatorial natural therapeutic cocktail with accentuated immunotherapeutic potential.

Identification of bioactive anti-angiogenic components targeting tumor endothelial cells in Shenmai injection using multidimensional pharmacokinetics

Shenmai injection(SMI)is a well-defined herbal preparation that is widely and clinically used as an adjuvant therapy for cancer.Previously,we found that SMI synergistically enhanced the activity of chemotherapy on colorectal cancer by promoting the distribution of drugs in xenograft tumors.However,the underlying mechanisms and bioactive constituents remained unknown.In the present work,the regulatory effects of SMI on tumor vasculature were determined,and the potential anti-angiogenic components targeting tumor endothelial cells(TECs)were identified.Multidimensional pharmacokinetic profiles of ginsenosides in plasma,subcutaneous tumors,and TECs were investigated.The results showed that the concentrations of protopanaxadiol-type(PPD)ginsenosides(Rb1,Rb2/Rb3,Rc,and Rd)in both plasma and tumors,were higher than those of protopanaxatriol-type(Rg1 and Re)and oleanane-type(Ro)ginsenosides.Among PPD-type ginsenosides,Rd exhibited the greatest concentrations in tumors and TECs after repeated injection.In vivo bioactivity results showed that Rd suppressed neovascularization in tumors,normalized the structure of tumor vessels,and improved the anti-tumor effect of 5-fluorouracil(5 FU)in xenograft mice.Furthermore,Rd inhibited the migration and tube formation capacity of endothelial cells in vitro.In conclusion,Rd may be an important active form to exert the anti-angiogenic effect on tumor after SMI treatment.