Inhibitory effect of long-term and low temperature fermented Ginseng on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is a well-known Korean traditional medicine in the Far East and has gained popularity in the west in the last decade. Ginseng has been widely reported to possess various biological activities, including anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. Ginseng contains various phytochemicals, such as ginsenosides (saponins), polyacetylenes, and polyphenolic compounds. Among them, the major components are ginsenosides, which are glycosides with steroids or triterpenes as aglycons. These ginsenosides are an important class of physiologically active compounds found in many herbs which possess anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities, such as the inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis and the prevention of tumor invasion and metastasis.
Recently, studies have been actively carried out to develop highly- functional ginseng products by combining new technologies that maximize the efficacy of ginseng. Fermented ginseng, which changes the structure of ginsenosides through fermentation using enzymes and microorganisms, has received much attention. However, the effect of ginseng fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum on allergic responses has not been elucidated.
In the present study, for fermentation, ginseng was incubated with L. plantarum at low temperature (4°C–10°C) for a long time (100 days). The amounts and types of ginsenosides in fermented ginseng extract (FPG) were assessed and compared with their corresponding values in the ginseng extract (PG). Any change in the composition of ginsenosides due to fermentation was also investigated. In the fermentation product, Rb1 (94%), Rg1 (61%), and Rc (50%) were decreased. However, the ginsenosides Rh2, Rh3, and Rk2 were newly detected, and the amounts of the ginsenosides Rd (1.7 time), Rh1 (6.5 time), and F1 (35 time) were increased.
Anti-allergic effects of FPG in immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated murine cell line in vitro and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in vivo were investigated. FPG showed higher inhibitory effect than PG against allergic responses in vitro and in vivo. The secretion of β-hexosaminidase and interleukin (IL)-4 from IgE-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-stimulated RBH-2H3 mast cells was significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited by FPG treatment in a concentration dependent manner. Further, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4) activation and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation, which is the subsequent signal of MKK4, were attenuated by FPG treatment. The superior inhibitory effect of FPG compared with that of PG on allergic response was confirmed by IgE-DNP-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in mouse in vivo model. Accordingly, the fermentation of ginseng with L. plantarum possesses anti-allergic effects in vitro and in vivo conditions. Therefore, it is anticipated that fermented ginseng can be used as a natural material for anti-allergic disorders.