Modulatory Effects of Ginsenoside Saponins in Panax notoginseng on Steroid Hormones

A narrative review of Panax notoginseng: Unique saponins and their pharmacological activities.

Panax notoginseng has been extensively used as a traditional Chinese medicine. In the current study, molecular cloning and characterization of PnbHLH1 transcription factor were explored in Panax notoginseng. The full length of the PnbHLH1 gene obtained by splicing was 1430 bp, encoding 321 amino acids. Prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a-PnbHLH1 was constructed and transferred into the BL21 prokaryotic expression strain. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay of PnbHLH1 protein binding to E-box cis-acting elements verified that PnbHLH1 belonged to the bHLH class transcription factor which could interact with the promoter region of the E-box core sequence. The expression levels of key genes involved in the biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponins in PnbHLH1 transgenic cells were higher than those in the wild cells. Similarly, the total saponin contents were increased in the PnbHLH1 transgenic cell lines compared with the wild cell lines. Such results suggest that the PnbHLH1 transcription factor is a positive regulator in the biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponins in Panax notoginseng.

Proteomic profiling reveals the mechanism of ginsenoside synthesis in Panax notoginseng

Vesicle based ultrasonic-assisted extraction of saponins in Panax notoginseng

Recent research has indicated that Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) extracted from the radix of Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F. H. Chen exert antidepressant effects. This study aimed to assess the antidepressive effects of ginsenoside Rg1 and PNS in a depression model induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Over a period of three weeks, rats were administered ginsenoside Rg1 at a dose of 30 mg/kg and PNS at dosages ranging from 100 to 200 mg/kg body weight per day. To assess how ginsenoside Rg1 and PNS influence depression-like behaviours in rats, various assessments were conducted, including coat state evaluation, forced swim test, and elevated plus maze test. The levels of cortisol and testosterone in serum samples were analysed using the liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method. LC-ESI-MS/MS method provides precise and accurate results. The lower limit of quantification values for cortisol and testosterone were determined as 100 and 2 pg/mL, respectively. Our data demonstrated that both ginsenoside Rg1 and PNS significantly reversed depression-like behaviour in rats by improving coat condition, reducing immobility time in the forced swim test, and increasing time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze test. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rg1 and PNS exhibited a regulatory effect on cortisol and testosterone levels in plasma. These findings suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 and PNS may be potential antidepressants in clinical treatment.

Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed the distribution of saponins in Panax notoginseng

Production and pharmaceutical research of minor saponins in Panax notoginseng (Sanqi): Current status and future prospects

Panax notoginseng (Sanqi), a traditional Chinese medical drug which has been applied to medical use for over four centuries, contains high content of dammarane-type tetracyclic triterpenoid saponins. A number of stereoisomeric dammarane-type saponins exist in this precious herb, and some are particularly regarded as “biomarkers” in processed notoginseng. Contemporary researches have indicated that some saponin stereoisomers may show stereospecific pharmacological activities, such as anti-tumor, antioxidative, anti-photoaging, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and neuro-protective activities, as well as stereoselective effects on ion channel current regulation, cardiovascular system, and immune system. The current review provides a comprehensive overview of chemical compositions of raw and processed P. notoginseng with a particular emphasis on saponin stereoisomers. Besides, the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic researches, as well as determination and biotechnological preparation methods of stereoisomeric saponins in notoginseng are discussed extensively.

The biotransformation of the major saponins in Panax notoginseng, including the ginsenosides Rg1, Rh1, Rb1, and Re, by endophytes isolated from P. notoginseng was studied. One hundred and thirty-six endophytes were isolated and screened for their biotransformational abilities. The results showed that five of the tested endophytes were able to transform these saponins. These five strains were identified based on their ITS or 16S rDNA sequences, which revealed that they belonged to the genera Fusarium, Nodulisporium, Brevundimonas, and Bacillus genera. Ten transformed products were isolated and identified, including a new compound 6-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-20-O-β-D-glucopyranosyldammarane-3,6,12,20,24,25-hexaol (3), and nine known compounds, compound K (1), ginsenoside F2 (2), vinaginsenoside R13 (4), vinaginsenoside R22 (5), pseudo-ginsenoside RT4 (6), (20S)-protopanaxatriol (7), ginsenoside Rg1 (8), vinaginsenoside R15 (9), and (20S)-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-6-O-β-D-glucopyranosylprotopanaxatriol (10). This is the first study on the biotransformation of chemical components in P. notoginseng by endophytes isolated from the same plant.

Transcription factors (TFs) are important regulative factors that mediate many life processes. The ERF family of TFs harbors a conserved AP2 domain, which plays vital roles in secondary metabolism in plants. However, few ERF genes in Panax notoginseng have been reported to date. In this study, a P. notoginseng ERF gene was cloned and designated as PnERF1. The cDNA of PnERF1 is 1113 bp long and encodes a protein consisting of 266 amino acids. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) demonstrated that the protein could bind to cis-element GCC-box, indicating that PnERF1 might bind to the promoter regions which contained GCC-box. The expression levels of some genes involved in triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis in PnERF1-transgenic cells were relatively higher than those in the wild cells. Correspondingly, the contents of total saponins were raised in the PnERF1-transgenic cell lines compared to the wild cell lines. Additionally, the contents of six major monomer saponins (Rg3, Rh1, Rd, Rg1, F1 and Re) were also increased in the transgenic cells. Such results suggest that the transcription factor PnERF1 is a positive regulator related to triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis in P. notoginseng.

A rapid method for the simultaneous determination of 11 saponins in Panax notoginseng using ultra performance liquid chromatography

The saponin ginsenoside Rd (1), isolated from Panax notoginseng, is used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, different body pains, trauma, and internal and external bleeding due to injury. In this study, we report that 1 inhibits the cell growth of human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, with an IC(50) value of 150.5+/-0.8 mcirog/ml after 48 h of incubation. The drug-treated cells displayed features of apoptosis, including typical morphological characteristics and formation of DNA ladders, as evident from agarose-gel electrophoresis. Flow-cytometric analysis showed that the cell-cycle distribution of HeLa cells exposed to 1 is characterized by a decrease of the G(0)/G(1)-phase and an increase of the S-phase cells, respectively, in a dose-dependent manner. The apoptotic rate of HeLa cells treated for 48 h with 210 microg/ml of 1 was 35.8%. Further, 1 was found to increase the expression of Bax and to decrease the expression of Bcl-2 proteins, respectively, and to lower the mitochondrial transmembrane potential of HeLa cells. The caspase-3 inhibitor DEVD-CHO (at 2 microM) increased the viability of HeLa cells treated with 1. Taken together, our study suggests that ginsenoside Rd (1) significantly inhibits HeLa cell proliferation, and induces cell apoptosis through down-regulating Bcl-2 expression, up-regulating Bax expression, lowering the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and activating the caspase-3 pathway. Thus, 1 could serve as a lead to develop novel chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agents against human cervical cancer.

Ischemic stroke is the most common form of stroke and one of the main diseases leading to death and disability in the world. Its pathological process is complex and changeable as a result of the interaction of multiple pathological links, such as oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation. Traditional Chinese medicine Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma is the dried roots and rhizomes of Panax notoginseng. In clinic, it is mainly used for the treatment of diseases of cardio-cerebral system and vascular system. Recent studies have shown that total saponins of P. notoginseng, the main active ingredients of P. notoginseng against cerebral ischemia, are complex, and can interfere with the enzyme-promoted cascade reaction through multiple pathways, multiple links and multiple targets, so as to exert its physiological effect. Therefore, it has become a hotspot in studies for prevention and treatment of cerebral ischemia. At present, a great advance has been made in studies on the mechanism of anti-cerebral ischemia of P. notoginseng saponins, but more in-depth studies are needed because of its complex mechanism. Therefore, in this paper, a total of 165 kinds of P. notoginseng saponins were summarized, and simply divided into protopanaxadiol saponins(55 species), protopanaxadiol saponins(37 species) and special structural type saponins(73 species) according to their structural types, so as to provide reference for further studies of P. notoginseng saponins. In addition, the effect of P. notoginseng on cerebral ischemia is clear, but its mechanism remains to be further explored. This paper summarizes the mechanism of P. notoginseng saponins against cerebral ischemia in five aspects: antioxidant stress, reduction of apoptosis, reduction of inflammatory reaction, inhibition of calcium overload and protection of blood-brain barrier. Four kinds of drugs commonly used in the treatment of cerebral ischemia were summarized, in order to provide a theoretical basis for further development and utilization of P. notoginseng saponins in the treatment of cerebral ischemia.

Reperfusion after cerebral ischemia causes brain injury. Total saponins of Panax notoginseng (PNS) have potential roles in protecting against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, whether PNS regulates astrocytes on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) injury in rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) and its mechanism still need further clarification. Rat C6 glial cells were treated with PNS at different doses. Cell models were established by exposing C6 glial cells and BMECs to OGD/R. Cell viability was assessed, and levels of nitrite concentration, inflammatory factors (iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α), and oxidative stress-related factors (MDA, SOD, GSH-Px, T-AOC) were subsequently measured through CCK8, Grice analysis, Western blot, and ELISA, respectively. The co-cultured C6 and endothelial cells were treated with PNS for 24 hours before model establishment. Then transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) content, and mRNA and protein levels and positive rates of tight junction proteins [Claudin-5, Occludin, ZO-1] were measured by a cell resistance meter, corresponding kits, ELISA, RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. PNS had no cytotoxicity. PNS reduced iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels in astrocytes, promoted T-AOC level and SOD and GSH-Px activities, and inhibited MDA levels, thus inhibiting oxidative stress in astrocytes. In addition, PNS alleviated OGD/R injury, reduced Na-Flu permeability, and enhanced TEER, LDH activity, BDNF content, and levels of tight junction proteins Claudin-5, Occludin, ZO-1 in the culture system of astrocytes and rat BMECs after OGD/R. PNS repressed astrocyte inflammation and attenuated OGD/R injury in rat BMECs.

Introduction: Among the notable breakthroughs in the past two decades of research in natural drug discovery is the identification of saponins (saponins in Panax notoginseng, PNS) as the primary ingredient of Panax notoginseng, an iconic herbal medicine in East Asia. Increasing evidences suggest that PNS have versatile effects against a variety of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), leading to four clinical trials completed and/or underway. There is a timely need to summarize our current understanding of these natural compounds.Areas covered: In this review, the authors summarize and critically appraise the latest literature (mainly since 2008), which study PNS as potential therapeutic agents against CVDs. Furthermore, they introduce the structures of major PNS types, analyze their cellular targets and associated signaling pathways and discuss the emerging opportunities for their clinical applications. A major focus here is on how these compounds affect the cardiovascular system via diverse mechanisms of action.Expert opinion: The authors believe that future research should head in two directions. The first direction taken should involve establishing a PNS compounds library to correlate their functions with structures; the second direction should be by integrating network pharmacology and pharmaceutical techniques in the future development of these natural compounds as new vascular medicine.