Abstract: Background: Many glaucoma patients have difficulty in using anti-glaucoma eye drops due to dry eye symptom. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we evaluated the effect of Korean red ginseng on dry eye syndrome in glaucoma patients treated with anti-glaucoma eye drops.Methods: Forty nine participants were allocated to the Korean red ginseng (3 g/day; n = 24) or placebo (n = 25) groups for 8 weeks. Tear film stability, fluorescein corneal staining, conjunctival hyperemia, tear production, the grade of meibomian gland dysfunction, and dry eye questionnaire (Ocular Surface Disease Index) were evaluated at baseline and on completion of the treatment.Results: Nearly all subjects displayed dry eye symptoms and signs at baseline. After the 8-week intervention, Korean red ginseng supplementation significantly improved the tear film stability and total Ocular Surface Disease Index score, as compared to placebo (p < 0.01).Conclusion: Korean red ginseng supplementation may provide an additional treatment option for dry eye and glaucoma patients using anti-glaucoma eye drops.

Abstract: Background: Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death, and inflammatory bowel disease is a risk factor for this malignancy. We previously reported colon cancer chemoprevention potential using American ginseng in a xenograft mice model. However, the nude mouse model is not a gut-specific colon carcinogenesis animal model.Methods: In this study, an experimental colitis and colitis-associated colorectal carcinogenesis mouse model, chemically induced by AOM/DSS, was established and the effects of oral American ginseng were evaluated. The contents of representative ginseng saponins in the extract were determined.Results: Our data demonstrated that American ginseng significantly reduced experimental colitis measured by the disease activity index scores. This suppression of the experimental colitis was not only evident during DSS treatment, but also very obvious after the cessation of DSS, suggesting that the ginseng significantly promoted recovery from the colitis. Consistent with the anti-inflammation data, we showed that ginseng very significantly attenuated AOM/DSS-induced colon carcinogenesis by reducing colon tumor number and tumor load. The ginseng also effectively suppressed DSS induced pro-inflammatory cytokines activation using ELISA array, in which 12 pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were assessed, and this effect was supported subsequently by real-time PCR data.Conclusion: Our results suggested that American ginseng, as a candidate of botanical-based colon cancer chemoprevention, should be further investigated for its potential clinical utility.

Abstract: Background: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used in many chemotherapeutic protocols and play an important role in the normal regulation of bone remodeling. However, the prolonged use of GCs results in osteoporosis, which is partially due to apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteocytes. In this study, effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) of a GC-treated murine osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and a GC-induced osteoporosis mouse model were investigated.Methods: MC3T3-E1 cells were exposed to dexamethasone (Dex) with or without KRG and cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Real-time PCR was done to evaluate the apoptotic gene expression, osteogenic gene expression and ALP activity were also measured. Western blotting was performed to evaluate the MAPK proteins. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis animal model was used for in vivo study.Results: and conclusion: MTT assay revealed that KRG prevents a loss of cell viability against dexamethasone (Dex) induced apoptosis in MC3T3E1 cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) data showed that groups treated with both Dex and KRG exhibited lower mRNA levels of caspase-3 and -9, whereas the mRNA levels of Bcl2, IAPs and XIAP increased. Moreover, groups treated with both Dex and KRG demonstrated increased mRNA levels of ALP, RUNX2, and BMPs as well as increased ALP activity in MC3T3-E1 cells compared to cells only treate with Dex. In addition, KRG increased AKT phosphorylation and decreased JNK phosphorylation. Also, Micro-CT analysis of the femurs showed that GC implantation caused trabecular bone loss. However, a significant reduction of bone loss was observed in the KRG-treated group. These results suggest that the molecular mechanism of KRG in the GC-induced apoptosis may lead to the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent and/or delay osteoporosis.

Abstract: Background: The present study is designed to prepare and find the optimum active preparation or fraction from Korea Red Ginseng inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) expression, since MMP-13 is a pivotal enzyme to degrade the collagen matrix of the joint cartilage.Methods: From total red ginseng ethanol extract, n-BuOH fraction (total ginsenoside-enriched fraction), ginsenoside diol-type-enriched fraction (GDF) and ginsenoside triol-type-enriched fraction (GTF) were prepared, and ginsenoside diol type-/F4-enriched fraction (GDF/F4) was obtained from Panax ginseng leave extract.Results and Conclusion: When their effects on MMP-13 expression were compared, the n-BuOH fraction, GDF, and GDF/F4 clearly inhibited MMP-13 expression against IL-1β-treated SW1353 cells (human chondrosarcoma), whereas the total extract and GTF did not. In particular, GDF/F4, the most prominent inhibitor, blocked the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), c-Jun-activated protein kinase (JNK), and signal transducer and activator of transcription-1/2 (STAT-1/2) among the signal transcription pathways involved. Further, GDF/F4 also inhibited the glycosaminoglycan release from IL-1α-treated rabbit cartilage culture (30.6% inhibition at 30 μg/ml). Therefore, it is suggested that some preparation from Korean Red Ginseng and ginseng leaves, particularly GDF/F4, may possess the protective activity against cartilage degradation in joint disorders, and may have potential as a new therapeutic agent.