Wei Mengguang, Zhang Yue, Sun Xiaomeng, Qi Lianwen, Liu Qun
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Clinical Metabolomics Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
Chin J Nat Med. 2025 Jun;23(6):673-686. doi: 10.1016/S1875-5364(25)60817-X.
Fibrosis is characterized as an aberrant reparative process involving the direct replacement of damaged or deceased cells with connective tissue, leading to progressive architectural remodeling across various tissues and organs. This condition imposes a substantial burden, resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality. Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer), renowned for its medicinal properties, has been incorporated as a key component in Chinese patent medicines to mitigate fibrotic diseases. Ginsenosides, the primary bioactive compounds in ginseng, have garnered significant attention. Over the past five years, extensive research has explored the pharmaceutical potential of ginsenosides in diverse organ fibrosis conditions, including liver, myocardial, renal, and pulmonary fibrosis. Studies have elucidated that ginsenosides demonstrate potential effects on inflammatory responses stemming from parenchymal cell damage, myofibroblast activation leading to extracellular matrix (ECM) production, and myofibroblast apoptosis or inactivation. Additionally, potential downstream targets and pathways associated with these pathological processes have been identified as being influenced by ginsenosides. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the efficacious treatments utilizing ginsenosides for various tissue fibrosis types and their potential anti-fibrotic mechanisms. Furthermore, it offers a reference for the development of novel candidate drugs for future organ fibrosis therapies.
纤维化的特征是一种异常的修复过程，涉及用结缔组织直接替代受损或死亡的细胞，导致各种组织和器官的结构进行性重塑。这种情况带来了沉重负担，导致相当高的发病率和死亡率。人参（Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer）以其药用特性而闻名，已被用作中成药的关键成分来减轻纤维化疾病。人参皂苷是人参中的主要生物活性化合物，已受到广泛关注。在过去五年中，广泛的研究探索了人参皂苷在多种器官纤维化病症中的药用潜力，包括肝纤维化、心肌纤维化、肾纤维化和肺纤维化。研究表明，人参皂苷对实质细胞损伤引起的炎症反应、导致细胞外基质（ECM）产生的肌成纤维细胞活化以及肌成纤维细胞凋亡或失活具有潜在影响。此外，已确定与这些病理过程相关的潜在下游靶点和途径受人参皂苷影响。本综述全面概述了利用人参皂苷治疗各种组织纤维化类型的有效方法及其潜在的抗纤维化机制。此外，它为未来器官纤维化治疗新型候选药物的开发提供了参考。
