Lee, Joon-Hee Choi, Sun-Hye Kwon, Oh-Seung Shin, Tae-Joon Lee, Jun-Ho Lee, Byung-Hwan Yoon, In-Soo Pyo, Mi Kyung Rhim, Hyewhon Lim, Yoong-Ho Shim, Yhong-Hee Ahn, Ji-Yun Kim, Hyoung-Choon Chitwood, David Joseph Lee, Sang-Mok Nah, Seung-Yeol 2024-01-21T00:05:43Z 2024-01-21T00:05:43Z 2021-09-02 2007-11 0918-6158 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/134009 The backbone structure of ginsenosides, active ingredients of Panax ginseng, is similar with that of sterol, especially cholesterol. Caenorhabditis elegans (C elegans) is one of free living nematodes and is well-established animal model for biochemical and genetic studies. C elegans cannot synthesize de novo cholesterol, although cholesterol is essential requirement for its growth and development. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ginseng total saponins (GTS) on the average brood size, growth, development, worm size, and life span of C elegans in cholesterol-deprived and -fed medium. Cholesterol deprivation caused damages on normal growth, reproduction, and life span of worms throughout F1 to F3 generations. GTS supplement to cholesterol-deprived medium restored the growth, reproduction, and life span of worms as much as cholesterol alone-fed medium. GTS co-supplement to cholesterol-fed medium not only promoted worm reproduction but also induced bigger worms and faster growth than cholesterol-fed medium. In study to identify which ginsenosides are responsible for life span restoring effects of GTS, we found that ginsenoside Re supplement not only restored life span of worms grown in cholesterol-deprived medium but also prolonged life span of worms grown in cholesterol-fed medium. Worms grown in medium supplemented with ginsenoside Rb-1 or Re to cholesterol-deprived medium exhibited strong filipin staining, in which filipin forms tight and specific complexes with 3 beta-hydroxy sterols. These results show a possibility that ginsenosides could be utilized by C. elegans as a sterol substitute and further indicate that ginsenoside Re is the component of Panax ginseng that prolongs the life span of C. elegans. English PHARMACEUTICAL SOC JAPAN Effects of ginsenosides, active ingredients of Panax ginseng, on development, growth, and life span of Caenorhabditis elegans Article 10.1248/bpb.30.2126 1 BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN, v.30, no.11, pp.2126 - 2134 BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 30 11 2126 2134 N scie scopus 000251595900022 2-s2.0-36048951564 Pharmacology & Pharmacy Pharmacology & Pharmacy Article ORIENTAL PLANT DRUGS C-ELEGANS CHOLESTEROL NEMATODE REQUIREMENT SAPONINS BETA Panax ginseng sterol Caenorhabditis elegans reproduction life span ginsenoside Rc