Inhibition of Cell Adhesion Molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 by Ginsenoside Rg3

This study examined the effects of Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), one of the most effective ginseng saponins, on monocyte adhesion and on the expression of adhesion molecules in endothelial cells, an initial event in atherogenesis. Rg3 inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-a)-induced cell adhesion in endothelial ECV 304 cells. This compound also suppressed TNFα-induced protein and mRNA expression of two cell adhesion molecules, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Moreover, expression of proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-a and interleukin-1b (IL-1b) was also decreased in the presence of Rg3. Reporter gene analyses revealed that minimal reporter activities of nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) were blocked by Rg3 in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Rg3 may have anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic activities in vasculatures, which occurs partly by down-regulating the expression of cell adhesion molecules and proinflammatory cytokines in endothelial cells.

Keywords: Rg3, Endothelial cell, Adhesion molecules, Cytokine.

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