Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of ginsenosides and ginseng root extract to counteract obesity

The objective of this research was to study the possible effects of ginsenosides and ginseng root extract against inflammation and oxidation, classic conditions in obese patients. Different procedures for ginsenoside extraction were evaluated and the best one was performed to obtain a dried extract from ginseng roots. Ginsenosides were quantified by LC–MS; ginsenosides and ginseng extract were tested for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties using THP-1 LPS-stimulated cells. Ginsenosides and the extract were able to marked decrease the expression of interferon-γ while the extract down-regulated the mtDNAcn obtaining levels alike to the control. Moreover, the studied ginsenosides and the extract demonstrated to possess antioxidant activities in the tested cells decreasing the levels of ROS/RNS, markers for protein oxidation, and the activity and expression of NOS and NOX. These findings could pave the way to gain insight into the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ginseng with the aim to better examine its potential anti-obesity effects.