Beneficial effects of fermented black ginseng and its ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in LLC-PK1 cells

• Published in: Journal of ginseng research Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 135 - 140
• Main Authors: Han, Myoung-Sik, Han, Im-Ho, Lee, Dahae, An, Jun Min, Kim, Su-Nam, Shin, Myoung-Sook, Yamabe, Noriko, Hwang, Gwi Seo, Yoo, Hye Hyun, Choi, Suk-Jung, Kang, Ki Sung, Jang, Hyuk-Jai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Elsevier B.V 01.04.2016; 고려인삼학회; Elsevier
• Subjects: cisplatin; ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3; mitogen-activated protein kinases; nephrotoxicity; Panax ginseng; 기타의약학; ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3; nephrotoxicity; cisplatin; Panax ginseng; mitogen-activated protein kinases
• ISSN: 1226-8453; 2093-4947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.2015.06.006

Nephrotoxicity is a common side effect of medications. Panax ginseng is one of the best-known herbal medicines, and its individual constituents enhance renal function. Identification of its efficacy and mechanisms of action against drug-induced nephrotoxicity, as well as the specific constituents mediating this effect, have recently emerged as an interesting research area focusing on the kidney protective efficacy of P. ginseng. The present study investigated the kidney protective effect of fermented black ginseng (FBG) and its active component ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 against cisplatin (chemotherapy drug)-induced damage in pig kidney (LLC-PK1) cells. It focused on assessing the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases as important mechanistic elements in kidney protection. The reduced cell viability induced by cisplatin was significantly recovered with FBG extract and ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 dose-dependently. The cisplatin-induced elevated protein levels of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p53, and cleaved caspase-3 were decreased after cotreatment with FBG extract or ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3. The elevated percentage of apoptotic LLC-PK1 cells induced by cisplatin treatment was significantly abrogated by cotreatment with FBG and the ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3. FBG and its major ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3, ameliorated cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in LLC-PK1 cells by blocking the JNK–p53–caspase-3 signaling cascade.