The effect of ginsenosides on adrenocorticotropin secretion in primary culture of rat pituitary cells.

Abstract

The effect of ginsenoside-Rb1, -Rc, -Rd, -Re, and Rg1 on adrenocortiocotropin (ACTH) secretion was examined using a primary culture of pituitary cells. Ginsenoside-Rg1, but not other ginsenosides, stimulated the secretion of ACTH. Ginsenoside-Rg1 was found to stimulate ACTH secretion in a dose-dependent fashion; the half maximal response occurred at ca. 2.8 µM; the maximum content of ACTH was obtained at 10 µM of ginsenoside-Rg1. The stimulation of ACTH secretion by ginsenoside-Rg1 was observed at 15 min after the treatment. Intracellular adenosine 3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) increased significantly at 10 minute after treatment with ginsenoside-Rg1. Although the increased plasma corticosterone level in a rat treated with ginsenoside-Rb1, -Rc, -Rd, and -Re is considered as the result of stimulated ACTH secretion, in this study, it is suggested that ACTH secretion is not caused by direct action of these ginsenosides to hypophysis.