Differentiation-promoting and protective effects of the fractions of various ginseng species in c2c12 cells

Abstract

Background: The effects of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer in protecting and promoting the differentiation of muscle cells have been reported. However, the influences of various ginseng species and various fractions were not investigated. Methods and Results: In this study, these effects on muscle cells were confirmed using butanol and water fractions of various ginseng species. The fractions of P. ginseng were confirmed to have a cytoprotective effect on C2C12 cells. The myogenin expression level was significantly higher by 1.5 times or more, in the P. ginseng fraction groups than in the other groups, confirming that the P. ginseng fractions promoted cell differentiation. Both fractions of P. ginseng significantly reduced the rate of production of reactive oxygen species when compared with that of the control group. In the mechanism study, P. ginseng fractions tended to decrease muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF-1), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), forkhead box O3α (Foxo3α), and the expression of the BCL2-associated agonist of cell death (BAD). In particular, AMPK was significantly reduced in the P. ginseng water fraction group when compared to that in the butanol fraction and control groups. Conclusions: The results of this study confirmed that P. ginseng has superior cell differentiation-promoting and protective effects on muscle cells when compared with the effects of Panax quin-quefolium and Panax notoginseng. © 2021, Korean Society of Medicinal Crop Science. All rights reserved.