Ginsenosides for therapeutically targeting inflammation through modulation of oxidative stress

• Published in: International immunopharmacology 2023-08, Vol.121, p.110461-110461, Article 110461
• Main Authors: Paik, Seungwha, Song, Gyu Yong, Jo, Eun-Kyeong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants - metabolism; Ginsenosides; Ginsenosides - therapeutic use; Host defense; Inflammation; Inflammation - drug therapy; Innate immune response; Oxidative Stress; Panax notoginseng; Reactive oxygen species (ROS); Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110461

•Ginsenosides are steroid glycosides derived from ginseng plants.•Ginsenosides target reactive oxygen species to exert anti-inflammatory effects.•Ginsenosides show potential therapeutic effects in various inflammatory diseases. Ginsenosides are steroid glycosides derived from ginseng plants such as Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolium, and Panax notoginseng. Advances in recent studies have identified numerous physiological functions of each type of ginsenoside, i.e., immunomodulatory, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory functions, in the context of inflammatory diseases. Accumulating evidence has revealed the molecular mechanisms by which the single or combined ginsenoside(s) exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, although it remains largely unclear. It is well known that excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is associated with pathological inflammation and cell death in a variety of cells, and that inhibition of ROS generation ameliorates the local and systemic inflammatory responses. The mechanisms by which ginsenosides attenuate inflammation are largely unknown; however, targeting ROS is suggested as one of the crucial mechanisms for the ginsenosides to control the pathological inflammation in the immune and non-immune cells. This review will summarize the latest progress in ginsenoside studies, particularly in the context of antioxidant mechanisms for its anti-inflammatory effects. A better understanding of the distinct types and the combined action of ginsenosides will pave the way for developing potential preventive and therapeutic modalities in treating various inflammation-related diseases.