Gold nanoparticles synthesized using Panax ginseng leaves suppress inflammatory - mediators production via blockade of NF-κB activation in macrophages

Abstract

In the present study, we report that Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized using the leaf extract of Panax ginseng Meyer (P.g AuNPs) exert anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of downstream NF-κB activation in macrophages. We found that P.g AuNPs reduced the expression of the inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PEG₂), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was attenuated by P.g AuNPs. Furthermore, P.g AuNPs suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of NF-κB signaling pathway via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, our results suggest that P.g AuNPs can be utilized as a novel therapeutic agent for the prevention and cure of inflammation.

Keywords:

• Inflammation
• P. ginseng
• gold nanoparticles
• green synthesis
• NF-κB

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grant 313038-03-1-SB010 from the Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology (iPET) of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Republic of Korea. The ginseng sample used in this study was provided by the Ginseng Bank of Kyung Hee University.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.