Stereoselective Skin Anti-photoaging Properties of Ginsenoside Rg3 in UV-B-Irradiated Keratinocytes

• Published in: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin Vol. 37; no. 10; pp. 1583 - 1590
• Main Authors: Lim, Chang-Jin, Choi, Woo-Yong, Jung, Hyun-Joo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 01-10-2014; Pharmaceutical Society of Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3; 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3; Cell Line, Transformed; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cell Survival - physiology; Ginsenosides - chemistry; Ginsenosides - pharmacology; Humans; Keratinocytes - drug effects; Keratinocytes - metabolism; Keratinocytes - radiation effects; matrix metalloproteinase-2; Panax; reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - antagonists & inhibitors; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Reactive Oxygen Species - radiation effects; Skin Aging - drug effects; Skin Aging - physiology; Skin Aging - radiation effects; Stereoisomerism; Ultraviolet Rays - adverse effects
• ISSN: 0918-6158; 1347-5215
• DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b14-00167

Ginsenosides are major bioactive constituents that are responsible for the diverse pharmacological activities of ginseng. This work aimed to assess the skin anti-photoaging activities of the two stereoisomeric forms of ginsenoside Rg3, 20(S)-Rg3 and 20(R)-Rg3. When the two Rg3 stereoisomers were added to cultured human keratinocyte HaCaT cells prior to irradiation with 70 mJ/cm2 UV-B, 20(S)-Rg3, but not 20(R)-Rg3, decreased the UV-B-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in a concentration-dependent manner, as detected by both fluorometric and confocal microscopic analyses. Likewise, 20(S)-Rg3, but not 20(R)-Rg3, decreased the UV-B-induced ROS levels in human dermal fibroblast cells. Both stereoisomers were unable to modulate the nitric oxide levels in HaCaT cells under UV-B irradiation, and induced no cytotoxicity in cultured keratinocytes and fibroblasts. 20(S)-Rg3 suppressed the UV-B-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activities in HaCaT cells. Taken together, these results indicate that 20(S)-Rg3 possesses both ROS-scavenging and MMP-2 inhibitory activities, while 20(R)-Rg3 possesses neither activity. These findings imply that ginsenoside Rg3 stereoselectively demonstrates skin anti-photoaging activities.