Antiobesity effect of ginsenoside Rg3 involves the AMPK and PPAR-γ signal pathways

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 262 - 266
• Main Authors: Hwang, Jin-Taek, Lee, Myoung-Su, Kim, Hyun-Jin, Sung, Mi-Jeong, Kim, Hye Young, Kim, Myung Sunny, Kwon, Dae Young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.02.2009
• Subjects: 3T3-L1 Cells; adipocyte differentiation; Adipocytes - drug effects; Adipocytes - metabolism; AMP-activated protein kinase; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents - pharmacology; antiobesity; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Enzyme Activators - pharmacology; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; ginsenoside Rg3; Ginsenosides - pharmacology; Mice; Panax - chemistry; peroxisome proliferators activated receptor-gamma; PPAR gamma - antagonists & inhibitors; PPAR gamma - metabolism; Signal Transduction - drug effects
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2606

Ginsenosides, the active component of ginseng, exerts antidiabetic and anticancer effects. This study investigated the molecular basis of ginsenoside Rg3, a red ginseng rich constituent, focusing on its ability to inhibit adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. The data show that ginsenoside Rg3 was effective in the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation. This inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on adipocyte differentiation was accompanied by PPAR-γ inhibition in rosiglitazone-treated cells. The study also tested whether AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation was involved in the inhibitory effects of ginsenoside Rg3. AMPK plays a role in maintaining health in the context of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer. AMPK was reported to control nutritional and hormonal signal modulating. Rg3 significantly and time-dependently activated AMPK. Taken together, these results suggest that the antiobesity effect of red ginseng rich constituent, ginsenoside Rg3, involves the AMPK signaling pathway and PPAR-γ inhibition. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.