Korean Red Ginseng improves atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions by suppressing expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in vivo and in vitro

Ji-Ye Kee; Yong-Deok Jeon; Dae-Seung Kim; Yo-Han Han; Jinbong Park; Dong-Hyun Youn; Su-Jin Kim; Kwang Seok Ahn; Jae-Young Um; Seung-Heon Hong

doi:10.1016/j.jgr.2016.02.003

Korean Red Ginseng improves atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions by suppressing expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in vivo and in vitro

J Ginseng Res. 2017 Apr;41(2):134-143. doi: 10.1016/j.jgr.2016.02.003. Epub 2016 Feb 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oriental Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang-Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
² Department of Oriental Medicine Resources, College of Environmental and Bioresources Sciences, Chonbuk National University, Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do, Korea.
³ College of Korean Medicine, Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
⁴ Department of Cosmeceutical Science, Daegu Hanny University, Gyeongsan-si, Korea.

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of allergic inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, and allergic rhinitis worldwide has increased and complete recovery is difficult. Korean Red Ginseng, which is the heat-processed root of Panax ginseng Meyer, is widely and frequently used as a traditional medicine in East Asia. In this study, we investigated whether Korean Red Ginseng water extract (RGE) regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines via the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway in allergic inflammation.

Methods: Compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic shock and 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB)-induced AD-like skin lesion mice models were used to investigate the antiallergic effects of RGE. Human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and human mast cells (HMC-1) were also used to clarify the effects of RGE on the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

Results: Anaphylactic shock and DNFB-induced AD-like skin lesions were attenuated by RGE administration through reduction of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in mouse models. RGE also reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8, and expression of chemokines such as IL-8, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) in HaCaT cells. Additionally, RGE decreased the release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 as well as expressions of chemokines including macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and IL-8 in HMC-1 cells. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that these inhibitory effects occurred through blockage of the MAPK and NF-κB pathway.

Conclusion: RGE may be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases such as AD-like dermatitis.

Keywords: Korean Red Ginseng; allergic inflammation; chemokine; keratinocytes; mast cells.