A Focused Review on Molecular Signalling Mechanisms of Ginsenosides Anti-Lung Cancer and Anti-inflammatory Activities.

BACKGROUND: Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is a cultivated medicinal herb that has been widely available in the Asian region since the last century. Ginseng root is used worldwide in Oriental medicine. Currently, the global mortality and infection rates for lung cancer and inflammation are significantly increasing. Therefore, various preventative methods related to the activity of ginsenosides have been used for lung cancer as well as inflammation. METHODS: Web-based searches were performed on Web of Science, Springer, PubMed, and Scopus. A cancer statistical analysis was also conducted to show the current ratio of affected cases and death from lung cancer around the world. RESULTS: Ginsenosides regulate the enzymes that participate in tumor growth and migration, such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signalregulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), the gelatinase network metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2/9) and activator protein 1 (AP-1). In addition, ginsenosides also possess anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the formation of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α) (TNF-α) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and controlling the activities of inflammatory signalling pathways, such as NF-κB, Janus kinase2/signal transducer, and activator of transcription 3 (Jak2/Stat3). CONCLUSION: In several in vitro and in vivo models, P. ginseng showed potential beneficial effects in lung cancer and inflammation treatment. In this review, we provide a detailed and up-to-date summary of research evidence for antilung cancer and anti-inflammatory protective effects of ginsenosides and their potential molecular mechanisms.

Dendropanax Morbifera Extract-Mediated ZnO Nanoparticles Loaded with Indole-3-Carbinol for Enhancement of Anticancer Efficacy in the A549 Human Lung Carcinoma Cell Line.

Dendropanax morbifera is a versatile plant that has been used as a herbal medicine due to its various useful medicinal effects. To protect its active component from biological stress and increase its drug efficacy as well as drug bioavailability, nanoemulsion was prepared. Dendropanax morbifera zinc oxide nanoparticles (DM-ZnO NPs) were synthesized using the plant extract via the co-precipitation method and loaded with active indole-3-carbinol for nanoemulsion formulation using the ultrasonication process. Field emission transmission electron microscope revealed the flower shape of the Dendropanax morbifera indole-3-carbinol zinc oxide nanoemulsion (DM-ZnO-I3C-NE). In contrast, DM-ZnO NPs showed a spheroid shape that coincides agreeably with field emission electron scanning microscope. The hydrodynamic sizes by dynamic light scattering are about 65 ± 3 nm and 239.6 ± 6 nm and the crystallite sizes from X-ray diffraction are 11.52 nm and 16.07 nm for DM-ZnO NPs and DM-ZnO-I3C-NE, respectively. In vitro analysis revealed the cytotoxicity of DM-ZnO-I3C-NE against a human lung cancer cell line (A549) at 12.5 µg/mL as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The DM-ZnO-I3C-NE-induced ROS generation level was higher than that of DM-ZnO NPs and free indole-3-carbinol. The synergistic effect of DM-ZnO and indole-3-carbinol indicates DM-ZnO-I3C-NE as a potential candidate for future lung cancer drug and could be scope for functional food.

Lysobacter panacihumi sp. nov., isolated from ginseng cultivated soil.

A Gram-negative, non-motile, aerobic, catalase-, and oxidasepositive bacterial strain, designated DCY117T, was isolated from ginseng cultivated soil in Gochang-gun, Republic of Korea, and was characterized taxonomically using a multifaceted approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain DCY117T showed highest similarity to Lysobacter ruishenii CTN-1T (95.3%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that closely related relatives of strain DCY117T were L. aestuarii S2-CT (95.1%), L. daejeonensis GH1-9T (95.0%), and L. caeni BUT-8T (94.9%). Diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were the major polar lipids of strain DCY117T. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8. The major cellular fatty acids of strain DCY117T were iso-C15:0, iso-C16:0, and summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C17:1ω9c and/or 10-methyl-C16:0). Genomic DNA G + C content was 61.8 mol%. On the basis of our findings, strain DCY117T is a novel species in the genus Lysobacter. We propose the name Lysobacter panacihumi sp. nov., and the type strain is DCY117T (= KCTC 62019T = JCM 32168T).