Sterols isolated from seeds of Panax ginseng and their antiinflammatory activities

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Abstract
Pharmacognosy Magazine,2013,9,34,182-185.
Published:April 2013
Type:Original Article
Authors:
Author(s) affiliations:

Jeong Ah Kim1, Jeong Hyun Son2, Seok Bean Song2, Seo Young Yang2, Young Ho Kim2
1College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National Univeristy, Daejeon 305-764; College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Deagu 702-701, Korea
2College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National Univeristy, Daejeon 305-764, Korea

Abstract:

Background: Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, a perennial herb from the Araliaceae family, is a commonly used medicinal plant. Many studies have been conducted on the biologically active constituents of whole parts of Pginseng (i.e., roots, leaves, flower buds, and fruits). However, the seeds of Pginseng have not been intensively investigated. A new sterol glucoside,3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-5,22,24-stigmastatrienol ( 1 ), and a known sterol, 5,22-stigmastadienol ( 2 ),were isolated from seeds of Pginsengand were evaluated for their inhibitory activities on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α-induced nuclear factor (NF)-κB and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) transcription in transfected HepG2 cells. The present work deals with the isolation, identification, and antiinflammatory activities of the two compounds. Materials and Methods: The compounds were isolated by a combination of silica gel and YMC R-18 column chromatography, and their structures were identified by analysis of spectroscopic data (1D, 2D-NMR, and MS).The antiinflammatory activities of the isolated compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated by luciferase reporter gene assays. Results: Two sterols have been isolated from the seeds of Pginseng. Compound 1 is a previously unreported glucosidyl sterol. Compounds 1 and 2 both inhibited NFκB-luciferase activity, with IC 50 values of 8.1 and 4.8΅M, respectively. They also inhibited iNOS-luciferase activity in TNFα-induced HepG2 cells, with IC 50 values of 2.2 and 2.9΅M, respectively. Conclusion: The two isolatedsterols have inhibitory effects on inflammation-related factors in HepG2 cells, as determined by luciferase reporter gene assays. Thus, seeds of P. ginseng are worthy of consideration for the development and research of antiinflammatory agents.

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