Effects of ginseng on TNF-α, leptin and plasma lipid levels of rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of ginseng root powder on plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, leptin, and TNF-α levels of adult rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet. In this study, 48 healthy adult male Wistar Albino rats were divided into three groups: a control group (K), a cholesterol group (C), and a cholesterol+ginseng group (CG). The K group was fed a standard rat diet, whereas the C and CG groups were fed the same standard diet containing 5% cholesterol and 5% cholesterol+1 g/kg Panax ginseng root powder, respectively. Blood samples were taken on days 20 and 40 of the study. On days 20 and 40, the CG group had lower plasma total cholesterol levels than the C group (p<0.05). On day 20, there were no significant differences in plasma LDL-cholesterol levels between the CG and K groups. The reduction in plasma trygliceride levels (day 20), the increase in plasma HDL-cholesterol levels (day 20) and the decrease in plasma leptin levels (day 40) in the CG group compared to the C group were significant (p<0.05). However, there were no differences in TNF-α plasma levels on days 20 or 40 both between sampling times and among the groups. The results of this study support the use of ginseng to ameliorate abnormalities in serum lipid levels. 

Keywords

• Ginseng
• cholesterol
• leptin
• adult rats
• TNF-α

References

1. Ahmed HH, Abdalla MS, Eskander EF, Al-khadragy, Massoud MN. Hypolipidemic influence of sargassum subrepandum, mechanism of action. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 2012; 16(3): 112-120.
2. Arai T, Yamashita S, Hirano K, Sakai N, Kotani K, Fujioka S. Increased plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein in obese subjects a possible mechanism for the reduction of serum HDL cholesterol levels in obesity. Arterioscler Thromb, 1994; 14: 1129-1136.
3. Ballantyne CM, Olsson AG, Cook TJ, Mercuri MF, Pedersen TR, Kjekshus J. Influence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and elevated triglyceride on coronary heart disease events and response to simvastatin therapy in 4s. Circulation, 2001; 104: 3046-3051.
4. Blades B, Vega GL, Grundy SM. Activities of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase in postheparin plasma of patients with low concentrations of hdl cholesterol. Arteriosclerosis and Thrombosis, 1993; 13: 1227-1235.
5. Chung SH, Choi CG, Park SH. Comparisons between white ginseng radix and rootlet for antidiabetic activity and mechanism in KKAy mice. Arch Pharm Res, 2001; 24: 214-218.
6. Cicero AFG, Vitale G, Savino G, Arletti R. Panax notoginseng (Burk.) effects on fibrinogen and lipid plasma level in rats fed on a high-fat diet. Phytother Res, 2003; 17: 174-178.
7. Fauvel J, Bonnet E, Ruidavets JB, FerrieÁres J, Toffoletti A, Massip P. An interaction between apo C-III variants and protease inhibitors contributes to high triglyceride/low HDL levels in treated HIV patients. AIDS, 2001; 15: 2397-2406.
8. Gerenli M, Tuğrul A, Demir M, Arıkan E, Güldiken S, Azcan Ş. The relationship between proinflammatory cytokine levels and fibrinolytic system in obese patients. Trakya Univ Tip Fak Derg, 2008; 25(1): 44-51.

9. Graf GA, Li WP, Gerard RD, Ingrid G, White A, Cohen JC, Hobbs HH. Coexpression of ATP-binding cassette proteins ABCG5 and ABCG8 permits their transport to the apical surface. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2002; 110: 659-669.
10. Harini M, Astirin OP. Blood cholesterol levels of hypercholesterolemic rat (rattus norvegicus) after VCO treatment. Bioscience, 2009; 1(2): 53-58.
11. Havel PJ. Role of adipose tissue in body-weight regulation: Mechanisms regulating leptin production and energy balance. Proc Nutr Soc, 2000; 59: 359-371.
12. Horton JD, Goldstein JL, Brown MS. SREBPs, activators of the complete program of cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis in the liver. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2002; 109: 1125-1131.
13. Inoue M, Wu CZ, Dou DQ, Chen YJ, Ogihara Y. Lipoprotein lipase activation by red ginseng saponins in hyperlipidemia model animals. Phytomedicine, 1999; 6(4): 257-265.
14. Ismail MF, Gad MZ, Hamdy MA. Study of hypolipidemic properties hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Pharmacological Research, 1999; 39(2): 157-165. garlic and ginseng in
15. Ji W, Gong BQ. Hypolipidemic effects and mechanisms of Panax notoginseng on lipid profile in hyperlipidemic rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007; 113: 318-324.
16. Joo IIW, Ryu JH, Oh HJ. The influence of sam-chil-geun (panax notoginseng) on the serum lipid levels and inflammations of rats with hyperlipidemia induced by poloxamer-407. Yonsei Med J, 2010; 51(4): 504-510.
17. Kawase A, Yamada A, Gamou Y, Tahara C, Takeshita F, Murata K. Increased effects of ginsenosides on the expression of cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase but not the bile salt export pump are involved in cholesterol metabolism. J Nat Med, 2013; 67: 545-553.
18. Kim JH, Hahm DH, Yang DC, Kim JH, Lee HJ, Shim I. Effect of crude saponin of korean red ginseng on high-fat diet-ınduced obesity in the rat. J Pharmacol Sci, 2005; 97(1): 124-131.
19. Kim SH, Park KS. Effects of panax ginseng extract on lipid metabolism in humans. Pharm Res, 2003; 48: 511-513.
20. Kim YR, Lee SY, Shin BA, Kim KM. Panax ginseng blocks morphine-induced thymic apoptosis by lowering plasma corticosterone level. Gen Pharmacol, 1999; 32: 647-652.
21. Kissebah AH, Alfarsi S, Evans DJ, Adams PW. Integrated regulation of very low density lipoprotein triglyceride and apolipoprotein-B kinetics in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Diabetes, 1982; 31: 217-225.
22. Lee DCW, Lau ASY. Effects of panax ginseng on tumor necrosis factor- α -mediated inflammation: a mini-review. Molecules, 2011; 16: 2802-2816.
23. Lee YS, Cha BY, Yamaguchi K, Choi SS, Yonezawa T, Teruya T. Effects of Korean white ginseng extracts on obesity in highfat diet-induced obese mice. Cytotechnology, 2010; 62: 367-376.
24. Li Q, Chen R, Moriya J, Yamakawa J, Sumino H, Kanda T, Takahashi T. Novel adipocytokine, visceral adipose tissue- derived serine protease Inhibitor (vaspin) and obesity. The Journal of International Medical Researc, 2008; 36: 625-629.
25. Liu CX, Xiao PG. Recent advances on ginseng research in China. J Ethnopharmacol, 1992; 36: 27-38.
26. Liu R, Zhang JZ, Liu WC, Kimura Y, Zheng YN. Anti-obesity effects of protopanaxdiol types of ginsenosides isolated from the leaves of American ginseng (panax quinquefolius L.) in mice fed with a high-fat diet. Fitoterapia, 2010; 81: 1079-1087.
27. Maffei M, Halas J, Ravussin E, Pratley RE, Lee GH, Zhang Y. Leptin levels in human and rodent: Measurement of plasma leptin and ob RNA in obese and weight-reduced subjects. Nat Med, 1995; 1:1155-1161.
28. McPherson R, Mann CJ, Tall AR, Hogue M, Martin L, Milne RW, Marcel YL. Plasma concentrations of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in hyperlipoproteinemia: Relation to cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity and other lipoprotein variables. Arterioscler Thromb, 1991; 11: 797-804.
29. Miller M, Stone NJ, Ballantyne C, Bittner V, Criqui MH, Ginsberg HN. Triglycerides and cardiovascular disease a scientific statement from the American heart association. Circulation, 2011; 123: 2292-2333.
30. Mohamed MM. Effects of chitosan and wheat bran on seruml, TNF- α, lipid profile and oxidative status in animal model of non-alcoholic fatty liver. Aust J Bas Appl Sci, 2011; 5(10): 1478- 1488.
31. Padwal RS, Majumdar SR. Drug treatments for obesity: orlistat, sibutramine and rimonabant. Lancet, 2007; 369(9555): 71-77.
32. Park NY, Rico CW, Lee SC, Kang MY. Comparative effects of doenjang prepared from soybean and brown rice on the body weight and lipid metabolism in high fat-fed mice. J Clin Biochem Nutr, 2012; 51(3): 235-240.
33. Silha JV, Weiler HA, Murphy LJ. Plasma adipokines and body composition in response to modest dietary manipulations in the mouse. Obesity (Silver Spring), 2006; 14: 1320-1329.
34. Song YB, An YR, Kim SJ, Park HW, Jung JW, Kyung JS. Lipid metabolic effect of Korean red ginseng extract in mice fed on a high-fat diet. J Sci Food Agric, 2012; 92: 388-396.
35. Stanley S, Wynne K, Mcgowan B, Bloom S. Hormonal regulation of food ıntake. Physiol Rev, 2005; 85: 1131-1158.
36. Wan JB, Lee SMY, Wang JD, Wang N, He CW, Wang YT, Kang JX. Panax notoginseng reduces atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE-deficient mice and inhibits TNF- α -induced endothelial adhesion molecule expression and monocyte adhesion. J Agric Food Chem, 2009; 57(15): 6692-6697.
37. Xiong Y, Shen L, Liu KJ, Tso P, Xiong Y, Wang G, Woods SC, Liu M. Antiobesity and antihyperglycemic effects of ginsenoside rb1 in rats. Diabetes, 2010; 59 (10): 2505-2512.
38. Yi J, Xiaohui L, Ya L, Haigang Z. Atherosclerosis lesion is accelerated by persistent systemic inflammation but attenuated by saponins from Panax Notoginseng in rabbits. J Med Col PLA, 2008; 23: 38-44.
39. Yuan HD, Kim SJ, Quan HY, Huang B, Chung SH. Ginseng leaf extract prevents high fat diet-ınduced hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia through ampk activation. J Ginseng Res, 2010; 34(4): 369-375.
40. Yudkin JS, Stehouwer CD, Emeis JJ, Coppack SW. Creactive protein in healthy subjects: associations with obesity, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction: a potential role for cytokines originating from adipose tissue? Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 1999; 19: 972-978.
41. Yun SN, Ko SK, Lee KH, Chung SH. Vinegar-processed ginseng radix ımproves metabolic syndrome ınduced by a high fat diet in ICR mice. Arch Pharm Res, 2007; 30(5): 587-595.
42. Yun SN, Moon SJ, Ko SK, Im BO, Chung SH. Wild ginseng prevents the onset of high-fat diet ınduced hyperglycemia and obesity in ICR mice. Arch Pharm Res, 2004; 27(7): 790- 796.