Influence of Panax ginseng formulation on skin microbiota: A randomized, split face comparative clinical study.

Background: Skin microbiota is important for maintenance of skin homeostasis; however, its disturbance may cause an increase in pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, we aimed to develop a red ginseng formulation that can selectively promote beneficial bacteria. Methods: The effects of red ginseng formulation on microorganism growth were analyzed by comparing the growth rates of Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Cutibacterium acnes. Various preservatives mixed with red ginseng formulation were evaluated to determine the ideal composition for selective growth promotion of S. epidermidis. Red ginseng formulation with selected preservative was loaded into a biocompatible polymer mixture and applied to the faces of 20 female subjects in the clinical trial to observe changes in the skin microbiome. Results: Red ginseng formulation promoted the growth of S. aureus and S. epidermidis compared to fructooligosaccharide. When 1,2-hexanediol was applied with red ginseng formulation, only S. epidermidis showed selective growth. The analysis of the release rates of ginsenoside-Rg1 and -Re revealed that the exact content of Pluronic F-127 was around 11%. The application of hydrogel resulted in a decrease in C. acnes in all subjects. In subjects with low levels of S. epidermidis, the distribution of S. epidermidis was significantly increased with the application of hydrogel formulation and total microbial species of subjects decreased by 50% during the clinical trial. Conclusion: We confirmed that red ginseng formulation with 1,2-hexanediol can help maintain skin homeostasis through improvement of skin microbiome.

Anti-acne properties of hydrophobic fraction of red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and its active components.

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that occurs when bacteria abnormally grow in hair follicles. The most common treatment is antibiotics, but they are limited due to antibiotic resistance. The purpose of this study was to identify the active ingredients of the antimicrobial effects of red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), compare it to existing antibacterial substances, and determine its potential efficacy as a natural drug product. The hydrophobic fraction in red ginseng ethanol extract (RGEF) showed the same or better antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes than benzoyl peroxide or azelaic acid. In addition, the antimicrobial component derived from red ginseng selectively showed a high antimicrobial effect on P. acnes. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis showed that the active antimicrobial substance in this fraction was panaxynol and panaxydol. Twenty subjects who had acne symptoms were treated with cream containing 3 mg/g of RGEF for 4 weeks. It was found that oxidized sebum contents and redness of the skin were reduced, and symptoms of the early to middle stage of acne were effectively improved. This study showed that red ginseng extract containing panaxynol and panaxydol can effectively control the symptoms of acne.

Opsonized erythrocyte ghosts for liver-targeted delivery of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides.

The use of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODNs) in therapeutic applications requires the development of appropriate analysis and delivery systems. Here, we report a quantitation method and a carrier-mediated AS-ODN delivery system. AS-ODN levels were quantitated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in which biotinylated AS-ODNs bound to streptavidin-coated plates were detected by binding of a complementary, dinitrophenol-labeled detector ODN. The ELISA-based assay could detect AS-ODNs at the femtomole level. AS-ODN delivery systems based on opsinized erythrocyte ghosts (EGs) were developed using various combinations of hypotonic solution and resealing buffer to optimize AS-ODN encapsulation efficiencies. AS-ODN and polyethyleneimine (PEI) complex formation did not affect encapsulation into EGs. The ELISA-based assay showed that the pharmacokinetics of AS-ODNs differed significantly among the various delivery methods. Opsonized EG-encapsulated AS-ODNs exhibited a mean residence time (MRT) significantly shorter than AS-ODN encapsulated in EGs. The biodistribution of EG-loaded AS-ODNs depended on opsonization, with opsonized EG carriers producing 4.5-fold higher levels of AS-ODN in the liver compared with unopsonized EGs. These results indicate that opsonized EGs can be used for liver-targeted delivery of AS-ODN and suggest that an ELISA-based method may be useful for studying the in vivo fate of AS-ODNs.

Modulation of biodistribution and expression of plasmid DNA following mesenchymal progenitor cell-based delivery.

Although therapeutic applications of mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) have been studied, the in vivo fate of genes delivered by the MPCs has received little attention. We report here the in vivo kinetics, tissue distribution, and duration of gene expression after systemic administration of plasmid DNA delivered by MPCs. Murine MPCs were isolated from bone marrow, cultured, and transfected with plasmid DNA using polyethylenimine. The gene-modified MPCs or naked plasmid DNA was administered intravenously to mice. Injected MPCs incorporating plasmid DNA yielded elevated serum concentrations when compared with the group treated with plasmid DNA alone, a 280-fold higher level measured at 5-min post-administration. Moreover, plasmid DNA delivered in MPCs was detected in several organs, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. The highest levels of distribution were observed in the liver, followed by lung and spleen at 4 days post-dose. Similar to the distribution of DNA, significant expression levels of the exogenous gene were observed only after delivery of the DNA in MPCs, demonstrating the sustained expression at the liver, lung, and kidney for 4 days after tail vein injection. This study provides perspectives regarding the in vivo fate and target tissue distribution of genes following MPC-based delivery.