Panax notoginseng saponin R1 improves glucocorticoid-inhibited airway epithelium repair via glucocorticoid receptor ß.

BACKGROUND: Panax notoginseng saponin R1(PNS-R1), derived from Panax notoginseng roots, promotes wound repair, whereas glucocorticoids can inhibit the repair of airway epithelial damage in asthma. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether PNS-R1 counteracts the inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on the repair of airway epithelial damage in asthma. METHODS: In vivo, female C57BL/6 mice were sensitized, challenged with house dust mites (HDM), and treated with dexamethasone, PNS-R1, and/or adenovirus GRß-shRNA. Airway epithelium damage was examined using pathological sections of the trachea and bronchi, markers of airway inflammation, epithelial cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and expression of the E-cadherin protein. In vitro, we treated 16HBE cells with dexamethasone, PNS-R1, and/or GRß-siRNA and detected cell proliferation and migration. The expression of GRß and key components of MKP-1 and Erk1/2 were detected by western blotting. RESULTS: In vivo, PNS-R1 reduced airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and mucus hypersecretion; the combination of PNS-R1 and dexamethasone promoted airway epithelial integrity and reduced cell detachment. In vitro, PNS-R1 alleviated the inhibition of bronchial epithelial cell growth, migration, and proliferation by dexamethasone; PNS-R1 promoted GRß expression, inhibited MKP-1 protein expression, and activated MAPK signaling, thereby promoting airway epithelial cell proliferation and repair. CONCLUSIONS: Panax notoginseng saponin R1 alleviated the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on the repair of airway epithelial damage in asthmatic mice, likely by promoting the proliferation of airway epithelial cells by stimulating GRß expression and activating the MAPK pathway.

Panax notoginseng saponin R1 modulates TNF-α/NF-κB signaling and attenuates allergic airway inflammation in asthma.

BACKGROUD: Panax notoginseng saponin R1 (PNS-R1) is one of the most important chemical monomers derived from the panax notoginseng, and our previous study found that PNS-R1 reduced glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in asthmatic airway epithelial cells. Thus, in this study, we explored the effects of the PNS-R1 on inflammation of allergic asthma. METHODS: The asthmatic mice were administered 15 mg/kg PNS-R1 by intraperitoneal injection three days before sensitized to OVA. The effects of PNS-R1 on asthmatic mice were detected by airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation, mucus hypersecretion and inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-13, IL-4, IL-5, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were studied. We also treated human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) with house dust mites (HDM) and then detected the secretion of cellular inflammatory factors (IL-13 and TNF-α). Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to examine the effect of PNS-R1 on TNF-α/NF-κB pathway. TNF-α/NF-κB/IKK signal pathway activator was used in PNS-R1-treated asthmatic mice. RESULTS: PNS-R1 significantly reduced the airway inflammatory, mucus secretion and hyperresponsiveness in asthma model. It also reduced the levels of IL-13, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-8 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and IgE and OVA-specific IgE in serum for asthma mice. PNS-R1 reduced IL-13 and TNF-α secretion in HDM-treated 16HBE cells. In addition, PNS-R1 suppressed TNF-α/NF-κB pathway in both asthmatic mice and 16HBE. Activation of NF-kB pathway reversed the therapeutic effect of PNS-R1 on asthmatic mice. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that PNS-R1 effectively suppresses allergic airway inflammation of asthma partly through TNF-α/NF-κB pathway. PNS-R1 may play a potential role in allergic asthma treatment in the future.

Degradation of total saponins of Panax notoginseng by intestinal flora of rats in vitro / 中草药

Objective To investigate the degradation of three kinds of saponins (notoginseng saponin R1, ginsenoside Rg1, and ginsenoside Rb1) from total saponins of Panax notoginseng (tPNS) by intestinal flora in male and female rats in vitro. Methods tPNS were incubated for 24 h with male and female rats intestinal flora separately in vitro under anaerobic environment. The content of three kinds of saponins was measured at different treatment time. Results The results showed that the intestinal flora both in male and female rats all had the degradation action against ginsenosides Rb1, in which the degradation of male rats was slightly faster than that of female rats. But the intestinal flora both in male and female rats had no obvious degradation to notoginseng saponin R1 and ginsenoside Rg1. Conclusion Under the condition of in vitro, tPNS can be degraded by rats intestinal flora, of which Rb1 was degraded most, while notoginseng saponin R1 and ginsenoside Rg1 were more stable.

Determination of Ginseng Saponin Rg_1,Rb_1,Re and Notoginseng Saponin R_1 in Tangzhiqing Capsule by HPLC / 中药新药与临床药理

Objective To establish a method of determining effective components in Tangzhiqing Capsule.Methods Gin- seng saponin Rg_1,Rb_1,Re and notoginseng saponin R_1 in the capsule were separated and purified by D_(101)macroporous absorption resin,and then determined by HPLC.Results The linearity arrange of ginseng saponin Rg_1,Re,Rb_1 and no- toginseng saponin R_1 were 1.88～11.28?g,1.76～10.56?g,0.294～1.764?g,0.752～2.256?g and the recov- eries were 101.51%(RSD=0.75%),100.58%(RSD=0.46%),100.29%(RSD=1.01%),98.64% (RSD = 0.73%)respectively.Conclusion The method is simple,feasible and reproducible,and can be used for the determination of effective components in Tangzhiqing Capsule.

Determination of ginseng saponin Rg_1,Rb_1 and notoginseng saponin R_1 in Qianjin Shenanning Pills by HPLC / 中成药

AIM:To establish a method of determining effective components in Qianjin Shenanning Pills(Flemingia Philippinensis Merr.et Rolfe,Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng rubra,Radix et Rhizowa Notoginseng,etc). METHODS: The contents of ginseng saponin Rg_1,Rb_1 and notoginseng saponin R_1 were determined by HPLC. RESULTS: The four effective components could be separated and purified by macroporous adsorptive resins of D_(101) and n-butanol,and their contents could be determined. CONCLUSION: The method is simple,feasible and reproducibility is good,it can be used as quality control in medicinal preparation.