Inhibitory effects of the transgenic Panax ginsengs on phorbol ester plus A23187-induced IL-6 production and cyclooxygenase-2 via suppression of NF-κB and MAPKs in HMC-1.

Our previous studies have that demonstrated the overexpression of the squalene synthase gene enhances the biosynthesis of triterpene and phytosterol in Panax ginseng. The total ginsenoside contents in adventitious roots of transgenic P. ginseng were about 1.6-3-fold higher than those in the wild-type. In the present work, we have evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of two types of transgenic P. ginseng (BS and SS) and the wild-type P. ginseng (GS) in a stimulated human mast cell line 1 (HMC-1). GS, BS, and SS inhibited not only the production of interleukin 6 (IL-6), but also the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-stimulated HMC-1. Additionally, GS, BS, and SS suppressed the expression of the nuclear transcription factor κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases induced by PMACI. The anti-inflammatory effects of BS and SS were higher than that of GS. These results provide new insights into the pharmacological actions of transgenic P. ginseng as a potential molecule for use in therapy in mast cell-mediated inflammatory diseases.