RG-II from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer suppresses asthmatic reaction

BMB Rep. 2012 Feb;45(2):79-84. doi: 10.5483/BMBRep.2012.45.2.79.

Abstract

In asthma, T helper 2 (T(H)2)-type cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 are produced by activated CD4(+) T cells. Dendritic cells played an important role in determining the fate of naive T cells into either T(H)1 or T(H)2 cells. We determined whether RG-II regulates the T(H)1/T(H)2 immune response by using an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma. RG-II reduced IL-4 production but increased interferon- gamma production, and inhibited GATA-3 gene expression. RG-II also inhibited asthmatic reactions including an increase in the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, an increase in inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissues, airway luminal narrowing, and airway hyperresponsiveness. This study provides evidence that RG-II plays a critical role in ameliorating the pathogenic process of asthmatic inflammation in mice. These findings provide new insights into the immunotherapeutic role of RG-II in terms of its effects in a murine model of asthma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Asthma / metabolism
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Eosinophils / cytology
  • Eosinophils / drug effects
  • Female
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Panax / chemistry*
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Polysaccharides / therapeutic use
  • Th2 Cells / drug effects
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Polysaccharides
  • RG-II, Panax ginseng
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Ovalbumin