Ginsenoside Ro

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2015;79(12):2018-21.

Antioxidative properties of ginsenoside Ro against UV-B-induced oxidative stress in human dermal fibroblasts.[Pubmed: 26214051]

Ginsenoside Ro (Ro), an oleanolic acid-type ginsenoside, exhibited suppressive activities on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) elevation in UV-B-irradiated fibroblasts. Ro could overcome the reduction of the total glutathione (GSH) contents in UV-B-irradiated fibroblasts. Ro could not interfere with cell viabilities in UV-B-irradiated fibroblasts. Collectively, Ro possesses a potential skin anti-photoaging property against UV-B radiation in fibroblasts.

Planta Med. 1991 Dec;57(6):523-6.

Anti-hepatitic activity of ginsenoside Ro.[Pubmed: 1818342]

Ginsenoside Ro, an oleanane-type saponin has been screened for activity in experimental models of acute and chronic hepatitis.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Ginsenoside Ro (50 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited the increase of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (s-GOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (s-GPT) levels in D-galactosamine (GalN)- and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute hepatitic rats. Ginsenoside Ro inhibited the increase of connective tissue in the liver of CCl4-induced chronic hepatitic rats.
CONCLUSIONS:
Ginsenoside Ro showed a stronger inhibitory effect on the GalN-induced acute hepatitic model than those of the aglycone of Ginsenoside Ro, oleanolic acid, or glycyrrhizic acid and its aglycone, glycyrrhetinic acid.

Planta Med. 1990 Feb;56(1):19-23.

Anti-inflammatory activity of ginsenoside ro.[Pubmed: 17221369]

Ginsenoside Ro, an oleanane-type saponin has been screened for activity in experimental models of inflammation.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Ginsenoside Ro (10,50, and 200 mg/kg, P. O.) inhibited an increase in vascular permeability in mice induced by acetic acid and reduced an acute paw edema in rats induced by compound 48/80 or carrageenin.
CONCLUSIONS:
Ginsenoside Ro did not suppress a developing adjuvant-induced edema in arthritic rats. However, Ginsenoside Ro was found to be effective in hypercoagulable state, increase of connective tissue in the artery and calcium effluence from the bone in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats.

Sci Rep . 2017 Jun 20;7(1):3888.

The traditional Chinese medicine Achyranthes bidentata and our de novo conception of its metastatic chemoprevention: from phytochemistry to pharmacology[Pubmed: 28634392]

Abstract Our recent biosystems analysis revealed similarities between embryonic implantation and cancer cell adhesion, which suggests that abortifacients may be good for safe and effective metastatic chemoprevention targeting circulating tumor cells (CTC). Here we test the hypothesis by using the well-known abortion herb Achyranthes bidentata Blume (A. bidentata). Five compounds were separated from the herb root. Among them, Ginsenoside Ro was the most potent in inhibiting embryonic implantation within non-cytotoxic concentrations. It specifically inhibited the metastatic dissemination capability of colon cancer cells HT29, including the migration and invasion ability, and their adhesion to human endothelium through inhibiting integrin αvβ6, MMP-2, MMP-9, and ERK phosphorylation by HT29. Pretreatment of nude mice with oral Ginsenoside Ro followed by HT29 intravenous inoculation and 40-day oral Ginsenoside Ro significantly prevented lung metastasis with downregulation of integrin αvβ6 and no toxicity. The present study firstly introduces the new conception of utilizing safe and effective abortion botanic medicines for CTC-based metastatic chemoprevention.

Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2005 Apr;40(4):332-6.

Ginsenoside-Ro enhances cell proliferation and modulates Th1/Th2 cytokines production in murine splenocytes.[Pubmed: 16011261]

To study the effects of ginsenoside-Ro on cell proliferation and cytokine production in murine splenocytes.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The effect of ginsenoside-Ro on murine splenocytes proliferation was studied using [3H] thymidine incorporation assay. Effects of ginsenoside-Ro on the production of cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) from murine splenocytes were detected by ELISA method. Effects of ginsenoside-Ro on mRNA level of Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma and Th2 cytokine IL-4 were evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Ginsenoside-Ro showed no mitogenic effect on unstimulated murine splenocytes. It enhanced the proliferation of Con A-induced murine splenocytes and the production of IL-2 at concentrations of 1-10 micromol x L(-1). Moreover, ginsenoside-Ro increased the production and expression of Th2 cytokine IL-4 and decreased the production and expression of Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma in Con A-induced murine splenocytes at concentrations of 2-10 micromol x L(-1).
CONCLUSIONS:
Ginsenoside-Ro showed immunomodulatory effects by regulating the production and expression of Th1/Th2 cytokines in murine splenocytes.

Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines, 2015, 13(4):283-9.

Ginsenoside Ro suppresses interleukin-1β-induced apoptosis and inflammation in rat chondrocytes by inhibiting NF-κB.[Pubmed: 25908625]

METHODS AND RESULTS:
This study investigated effects of Ginsenoside Ro (Ro) on interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced apoptosis and inflammation in rat chondrocytes. The rat chondrocytes were co-treated with IL-1β (10 ng·kg(-1)) and Ro (50, 100 and 200 μmol·L(-1)) for 48 h. Chondrocytes viability was detected by the MTT assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI dual staining assay. Caspase 3 activity was measured by using caspase 3 colorimetric assay kit. Apoptosis related proteins Bax, Bad, Bcl-xL, PCNA, p53 and phospho-p53, along with inflammation related protein MMP 3, MMP 9 and COX-2, and the expression of phospho-NF-κB p65 were assayed by western blotting analyses. Ro could improve IL-1β-induced chondrocytes viability. Ro could suppress IL-1β-induced apoptosis by inhibiting levels of Bax and Bad, decreasing p53 phosphorylation and promoting the expression of Bcl-xL and PCNA. Ro inhibited caspase 3 activity. IL-1β-induced inflammation and matrix degration were also alleviated by Ro with down-regulating the expression of MMP 3, MMP 9 and COX-2. Moreover, Ro inhibited NF-κB p65 phosphorylation induced by IL-1β.
CONCLUSIONS:
In conclusion, these results suggested Ro exerted anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammation in IL-1β-induced rat chondrocytes, which might be related to NF-κB signal pathway. Therefore, we propose that Ro might be a potential novel drug for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Phytother Res. 2012 Jan;26(1):48-53.

Effects of ginseng rhizome and ginsenoside Ro on testosterone 5α-reductase and hair re-growth in testosterone-treated mice.[Pubmed: 21538628]

METHODS AND RESULTS:
This research program on the novel functions of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer focused on the effects of ginseng rhizome on hair re-growth in androgenetic alopecia. Extracts of red ginseng rhizome showed greater dose-dependent inhibitory effects against testosterone 5α-reductase (5αR) when compared with extracts of the main root. Ginsenoside Ro, the predominant ginsenoside in the rhizome, and ginsenoside Rg(3), a unique ginsenoside in red ginseng, showed inhibitory activity against 5αR with IC(50) values of 259.4 and 86.1 μm, respectively. The rhizome of P. japonicus, which contains larger amounts of Ginsenoside Ro, also inhibited 5αR. Topical administration of extracts of red ginseng rhizomes (2 mg/mouse) and Ginsenoside Ro (0.2 mg/mouse) to shaved skin inhibited hair re-growth suppression after shaving in the testosterone-treated C57BL/6 mice.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest that red ginseng rhizomes containing both oleanane- and dammarane-type ginsenosides are a promising raw material for cosmetic use. This is the first report that Ginsenoside Ro enhances in vivo hair re-growth based on their inhibitory activity against 5αR in the androgenetic alopecia model.