Dammarane-type triterpene oligoglycosides from the leaves and stems of Panax notoginseng and their anti-inflammation activities

Inflammation is widespread in the clinical pathology and closely associated to the progress of many diseases. Triterpenoid saponins as a key group of active ingredients in Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen were demonstrated to show anti-inflammatory effects. However, the chemical structures of saponins in the leaves and stems of Panax notoginseng (PNLS) are still not fully clear. Herein, the isolation, purification and further evaluation of the anti-inflammation activity of dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins from PNLS were conducted.

Simultaneous determination and difference evaluation of 14 ginsenosides in Panax ginseng roots cultivated in different areas and ages by HPLC-MRM/MS combined with multivariate statistical analysis

Ginsenosides are not only the principal bioactive components, but also the important indexes to the quality assessment of Panax ginseng Meyer. Their contents in cultivated ginseng vary with the growth environment and age. The present study aimed at evaluating the significant difference between 36 cultivated ginseng of different cultivation areas and ages based on the simultaneously determined contents of 14 ginsenosides.

Bioactive lipids in gintonin-enriched fraction from ginseng

Ginseng is a traditional herbal medicine for human health. Ginseng contains a bioactive ligand named gintonin. The active ingredient of gintonin is lysophosphatidic acid C18:2 (LPA C18:2). We previously developed a method for gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) preparation to mass-produce gintonin from ginseng. However, previous studies did not show the presence of other bioactive lipids besides LPAs. The aim of this study was to quantify the fatty acids, lysophospholipids (LPLs), and phospholipids (PLs) besides LPAs in GEF.

Korean red ginseng enhances pneumococcal Δpep27 vaccine efficacy by inhibiting reactive oxygen species production

Streptococcus pneumoniae, more than 90 serotypes of which exist, is recognized as an etiologic agent of pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Immunization with a pneumococcal pep27 mutant (Δpep27) has been shown to confer comprehensive, long-term protection against even non-typeable strains. However, Δpep27 is only effective as a vaccine after at least 3 rounds of immunization. Therefore, treatments capable of enhancing the efficiency of Δpep27 immunization should be identified without delay.

Roles of ginsenosides in inflammasome activation

Inflammation is an innate immune response that protect the body from pathogens, toxins, and other dangers and initiated by recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) by pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) expressing on or in immune cells. Intracellular PRRs, including nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors (NLRs), absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), and cysteine aspartate-specific protease (caspase)-4/5/11 recognize various PAMPs and DAMPs and assemble protein complexes called ‘inflammasomes’.