Ginsenoside Rg3 exhibits strain-specific phenotypic responses of bone status and gut microbiota on dexamethasone-induced osteosarcopenia in genetically diverse collaborative cross mouse founder strains

Abstract

Osteosarcopenia is a newly described syndrome in which two age-related diseases: osteoporosis and sarcopenia are co-existed. Previous studies have been validated the therapeutic effect of ginsenosides on osteosarcopenia in the C57BL/6J mouse model. It has always been raised the question of applying single-species animal experiments to humans, because it is unknown the influence of genetic factors on the effects of phytochemicals. To overcome this problem, we conducted oral administration of Rg3, one of the representative ginsenosides, with diverse inbred mouse strains in which osteosarcopenia induced by dexmetathone. As the results of the bone analysis, Rg3 treatment showed different responses depending on strains, and bone markers of only PWK strain was significantly changed by Rg3 administration. Similarly, in a result of the gut microbiota analysis, each strain showed diverse responses on Rg3 treatment, and several bacterial taxa were found that correlated with the markers of the bone. These data indicate genetic diversity is critical in the responses on drugs or phytochemicals and highlight the use of genetically diverse collaborative cross models that are emerging as valuable tools in the field of personalized nutrition.