Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Ginsenoside Rb1 Reduces Nitric Oxide Production via Inhibition of Nuclear Factor-kB Activation in Interleukin-1β-Stimulated SW1353 Chondrosarcoma Cells

Ping Jia¹ , Gang Chen², Rongheng Li¹, Xiaofeng Rong¹, Guoqing Zhou¹, Yu Zhong¹

¹Department of Combination of Chinese and Western Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016; ²School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, PR China.

For correspondence:- Ping Jia Email: jiap008@hotmail.com Tel:+862389012864

Received: 21 October 2013 Accepted: 1 May 2014 Published: 25 July 2014

Citation: Jia P, Chen G, Li R, Rong X, Zhou G, Zhong Y. Ginsenoside Rb1 Reduces Nitric Oxide Production via Inhibition of Nuclear Factor-kB Activation in Interleukin-1β-Stimulated SW1353 Chondrosarcoma Cells. Trop J Pharm Res 2014; 13(7):1071-1078 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v13i7.9

© 2014 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect and the potential mechanisms of ginsenoside Rb1 on nitric oxide (NO) production in chondrocytes.

Methods: SW1353 chondrosarcoma cells were stimulated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the presence of 20, 40, 80 µM ginsenoside Rb1. NO concentration was assessed by the Griess reaction. expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), content of inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB)α and nuclear level of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 were determined by Western blot. DNA binding activity of NF-κB was evaluated with Trans AM™ kit for NF-κB p65.

Results: Ginsenoside Rb1 (40 and 80 µM) significantly decreased NO level by 24 (p < 0.05) and 46 % (p < 0.01), as well as iNOS protein expression by 40 and 55 % (p < 0.01), respectively, in IL-1β-stimulated SW1353 cells. Ginsenoside Rb1 (40 and 80 µM) also markedly elevated IκBα protein content by 200 and 260 % (p < 0.01), reduced the nuclear level of p65 protein by 30 and 40 % (p < 0.01), as well as decreased the DNA binding activity of NF-κB by 40 and 50 % (both p < 0.01), respectively, in IL-1β-stimulated SW1353 cells.

Conclusion: These results suggest that ginsenoside Rb1 inhibits IL-1β-induced NO production through downregulation of NF-κB-dependent iNOS expression in chondrocytes, and also underlines the potential mechanisms of ginseng activity in OA treatment of TCM.

Keywords: Ginsenoside Rb1, Nitric oxide, Nuclear factor-_4;B, Chondrocytes, Osteoarthritis