ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the influence of fermented red ginseng extract (FRGE) in the proliferation of rat glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) and the degradation of extracellular matrix(ECM)under high sugar stimulation, and to clarify the prevention and treatment effects of FRGE on diabetic nephropathy (DN) and the possible mechanism.Methods:The rat GMCs were cultured and divided into normal concentration of D-glucose (NG) group, high concentration of D-glucose (HG) group and high concentration of D-glucose plus different concentrations (3.75, 7.50, 15.00 mg·L-1) of FRGE groups. The proliferation rates of rat GMCs were detected with MTT,and the type Ⅳcollagen(Col Ⅳ) levels in supernatants of the GMCs were detected by ELISA. The protein expressions levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) were detected with Western blotting m ethod.Results:Compared with NG group, the proliferation rate of GMCs in HG group was increased(P<0.01), the Col Ⅳ level was increased(P<0.01),the MMP-2 expression level was decreased, and the TIMP-2 expression level was up-regulated(P<0.01).Compared with HG group, the proliferation rates of GMCs in various FRGE groups were decreased(P<0.01), the Col Ⅳ levels were decreased(P<0.01),the expression levels of TIMP-2 were reduced(P<0.01),and the expression levels of MMP-2 were increased(P<0.01).Conclusion:FRGE can inhibit the proliferation of rat GMCs induced by high sugar and promote the ECM degradation to delay the occurrence and development of DN.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the adjuvant therapeutic effects of fermented red ginseng (FRG) extract on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with chemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 60 patients with advanced NSCLC were divided into two groups using a random number table, i.e., the gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) chemotherapy alone group (26 patients) and the FRG + GP chemotherapy group (34 patients), for 60-day treatment. Patients were then assessed according to the Fatigue Symptom Inventory, Chinese medicine symptoms score, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Karnofsky Performance Status Scale, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung. In addition, chemotherapy toxicity and tumor biomarkers were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For NSCLC patients after chemotherapy, FRG extract significantly improved the FSI score, CM symptoms score, psychological status, physical conditions, and quality of life and reduced chemotherapy toxicity, but the expression levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, cytokeratin-19 fragments, and neuron-specific enolase were not significantly different between the chemotherapy alone and the FRG + chemotherapy groups or between pre- and post-treatments.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study demonstrated that FRG extract had an adjuvant effect on advanced NSCLC patients treated with chemotherapy. Further studies with a larger sample size will verify the current findings.</p>
ABSTRACT
This study was performed to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of fermented red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer; FRG) on high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of seven: normal control, NC; high-fat diet control, HFC; high-fat diet–0.5% FRG, HF-FRGL; and high-fat diet–1% FRG, HF-FRGH. All rats were fed a high-fat diet for eight weeks, except those in the NC group, while rats in the FRG treatment groups received drinking water containing 0.5% or 1% FRG. After eight weeks of treatment, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in the serum were measured. The concentration of the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA), and activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in rat liver were evaluated. Histological analysis of the liver was performed using hematoxylin and eosin. The high-fat diet markedly increased serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C and hepatic MDA levels, while administration of FRG to the hyperlipidemic rats resulted in a significant decline in the levels of these parameters. Furthermore, the decline in the levels of serum HDL-C and hepatic SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px induced by the high-fat diet was attenuated by FRG treatment. In addition, histopathological analysis of liver sections suggested that FRG treatment also provided protection against liver damage. These results suggested that FRG improved lipid profiles, inhibited lipid peroxidation, and played a protective role against liver injury in hyperlipidemic rats.