Figures & data
Figure 1. Effect of red ginseng extract (RGE) on monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced IL-1β production and expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-related molecules. THP-1 cell lines were preactivated with PMA and lipopolysaccharide and stimulated with MSU (150 µg/mL) for 6 h. Various concentrations of RGE were used during MSU stimulation. The supernatant was obtained and analysed via ELISA to measure IL-1β (A). The cells were harvested and the mRNA expression was determined with PCR analysis for IL-1β (B), NLRP3 (C), caspase-1 (D), and ASC (E).
Figure 2. Effect of red ginseng extract (RGE) on monosodium urate (MSU)-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. THP-1 cell lines were preactivated with PMA and lipopolysaccharide and stimulated with MSU (150 µg/mL) for 6 h. Various concentrations of RGE were used at the time of MSU stimulation. The cells were harvested and the protein expression was determined via immunoblotting analysis of NLRP3, procaspase-1, pro IL-1β, and ASC (A). The supernatant was obtained and used for immunoblotting analysis to measure the cleaved caspase-1 level (B). ASC expression and oligomerization were determined via immunoblotting analysis (C).
Figure 3. Effect of red ginseng extract (RGE) on acute inflammation in air pouch model. Mice were fed with 0/5/10% RGE containing water ad libitum for 3 weeks (n = 8 per group). Air pouch formation was induced on the subcutaneous tissue dorsally by injecting air. Monosodium urate (MSU) crystals (3 mg/pouch) were injected into the air pouch. After 6 h, the lavage fluid was obtained and the whole cell counts (A) and neutrophil counts (B) were determined. The IL-1β level was analysed using ELISA (C).
Figure 4. Study scheme.
Figure 5. Patient flow.
Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the study subjects.
Figure 6. Expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components and serum cytokines level after 3 months’ treatment of red ginseng tablet or placebo. (A) mRNA expression of IL-1β, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 measured by RT-PCR (B) serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β measured by ELISA.
Supplemental Material
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The data that support the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request
