Korean Red Ginseng exerts anti-inflammatory and autophagy-promoting activities in aged mice

J Ginseng Res. 2021 Nov;45(6):717-725. doi: 10.1016/j.jgr.2021.03.009. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Abstract

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a traditional herb that has several beneficial properties including anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and autophagy regulatory effects. However, the mechanisms of these effects are not well understood. In this report, the underlying mechanisms of anti-inflammatory and autophagy-promoting effects were investigated in aged mice treated with KRG-water extract (WE) over a long period.

Methods: The mechanisms of anti-inflammatory and autophagy-promoting activities of KRG-WE were evaluated in kidney, lung, liver, stomach, and colon of aged mice using semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), and western blot analysis.

Results: KRG-WE significantly suppressed the mRNA expression levels of inflammation-related genes such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and IL-6 in kidney, lung, liver, stomach, and colon of the aged mice. Furthermore, KRG-WE downregulated the expression of transcription factors and their protein levels associated with inflammation in lung and kidney of aged mice. KRG-WE also increased the expression of autophagy-related genes and their protein levels in colon, liver, and stomach.

Conclusion: The results suggest that KRG can suppress inflammatory responses and recover autophagy activity in aged mice.

Keywords: AP-1, activator protein-1; ATG, autophagy-related gene; IL, interleukin; KRG, Korean Red Ginseng; Korean Red Ginseng (KRG); MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa B; RT-PCR, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; aging; anti-inflammatory effect; autophagy.