20-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol-fortified ginseng extract attenuates the development of atopic dermatitis-like symptoms in NC/Nga mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ginseng and ginsenosides are frequently used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Recently, 20-O-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol (GPD), the main metabolite of ginsenosides, was reported to have both anti-allergic and anti-pruritic effects. The immunomodulatory effects of GPD-fortified ginseng extract (GFGE) on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like symptoms in mice were investigated. This study was designed to investigate the preventive effect of GFGE on AD-like symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effects of orally administered GFGE on Dermatophagoides farinae body extract (DFE)-induced AD-like symptoms in NC/Nga mice were assessed by analyzing dermatitis score, ear thickness, scratching time, skin histological changes, and serum level of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC). In addition, splenocytes were isolated from the mice and stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies to produce cytokines. RESULTS: Oral administration of GFGE significantly attenuated DFE-induced increases in dermatitis score, ear thickness, scratching time, and severity of skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. GFGE treatment also reduced level of MDC in serum, infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells in skin, and production of cytokines in splenocytes. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that GFGE might ameliorate DFE-induced AD-like symptoms and be an alternative therapeutic agent for the prevention of AD.

Enzymatic modification of saponins from Platycodon grandiflorum with Aspergillus niger.

Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant. Its root, Platycodi Radix, contains an abundant amount of saponin glycosides, platycodins, of which platycodin D is one of the major components. The chemical structures of platycodins can be modified by various types of chemical processing, but a modification mediated with microorganisms has been not reported yet. In this study, platycodin D was modified to several partially degraded platycodin glycosides after treatment with a crude enzyme extract from Aspergillus niger (A. niger). The modified platycodin D possessed a shorter sugar side-chain, and presented a remarkably reduced V79-4 cell (Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts) cytotoxicity and erythrocyte hemolytic toxicity, whereas the nitrite-scavenging activity was increased in the modified platycodin D. Sensory scores for pungency, bitterness and after-taste were improved as well in the modified platycodin D. Results suggest that A. niger mediated modification yielded a novel partially degraded platycodin glycoside which possesses increased bioactivities and improved sensory values, yet with reduced toxic profiles.