Kim Su Na, Lee Ju Hyeon, Shin Heungsop, Son Sung Ho, Kim Yeong Shik
College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
Planta Med. 2009 May;75(6):596-601. doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1185358. Epub 2009 Feb 9.
Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, is frequently used in traditional oriental medicines. The major active components of ginseng are the saponins, which are also called ginsenosides and are known for their pharmacological and biological activities. In this study, the effects of ginsenosides on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were investigated after the ginsenosides were in vitro-digested with artificial gastric and intestinal fluids. Ginseng extract was incubated with an artificial digestive fluid, and the changes were analyzed by HPLC, after which the effects of the digest on 3T3-L1 adipocytes were observed. Polar ginsenosides were transformed into less-polar ginsenosides at the low pH of the gastric acid, without any influence from the digestive enzymes. Additionally, the artificially digested ginsenosides showed inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. When the 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with various ginseng samples that possessed different polarities, the less polar ginsenosides were more effective in reducing lipid accumulation. Furthermore, when the Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5 ginsenosides were used to treat the cells individually, Rg3 ginsenoside was the most effective at inhibiting lipid accumulation. These results suggest that the less polar ginsenosides, particularly ginsenoside Rg3, effectively reduce lipid accumulation in adipocytes. Accordingly, our results suggest that ginsenoside Rg3 should be developed as an antiobesity treatment.
人参，即五加科人参属植物人参（Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer）的根，常用于传统东方医学。人参的主要活性成分是皂苷，也称为人参皂苷，以其药理和生物学活性而闻名。在本研究中，人参皂苷经人工胃液和肠液体外消化后，研究了其对3T3-L1脂肪细胞脂质积累的影响。将人参提取物与人工消化液孵育，通过高效液相色谱法（HPLC）分析变化情况，之后观察消化产物对3T3-L1脂肪细胞的影响。在胃酸的低pH值条件下，极性人参皂苷转化为极性较小的人参皂苷，且不受消化酶的影响。此外，人工消化后的人参皂苷对3T3-L1脂肪细胞的脂质积累具有抑制作用。当用具有不同极性的各种人参样品处理3T3-L1脂肪细胞时，极性较小的人参皂苷在减少脂质积累方面更有效。此外，当分别用Rg3、Rk1和Rg5人参皂苷处理细胞时，Rg3人参皂苷在抑制脂质积累方面最有效。这些结果表明，极性较小的人参皂苷，特别是人参皂苷Rg3，能有效减少脂肪细胞中的脂质积累。因此，我们的结果表明人参皂苷Rg3应开发为一种抗肥胖治疗药物。
