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. 2023 Mar 6;28(5):2416.
doi: 10.3390/molecules28052416.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Panax notoginseng Flower Saponins Quantified Using LC/MS/MS

Junchen Liu  1 , Yuehang Wu  1 , Wenrui Ma  1 , Hongyan Zhang  1 , Xianyao Meng  1 , Huirong Zhang  1 , Miaomiao Guo  1 , Xiao Ling  2 , Li Li  1
Affiliations

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Panax notoginseng Flower Saponins Quantified Using LC/MS/MS

Junchen Liu et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen is a traditional Chinese medicinal and edible plant. However, Panax notoginseng flower (PNF) is rarely used. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the main saponins and the anti-inflammatory bioactivity of PNF saponins (PNFS). We explored the regulation of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), a key mediator of inflammatory pathways, in human keratinocyte cells treated with PNFS. A cell model of UVB-irradiation-induced inflammation was established to determine the influence of PNFS on inflammatory factors and their relationship with LL-37 expression. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting analysis were used to detect the production of inflammatory factors and LL37. Finally, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was employed to quantify the main active components (ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Re, Rg1, and notoginsenoside R1) in PNF. The results show that PNFS substantially inhibited COX-2 activity and downregulated the production of inflammatory factors, indicating that they can be used to reduce skin inflammation. PNFS also increased the expression of LL-37. The contents of ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, and Rd in PNF were much higher than those of Rg1, and notoginsenoside R1. This paper provides data in support of the application of PNF in cosmetics.

Keywords: LC/MS/MS; Panax notoginseng flower; UVB; antibacterial peptide LL-37; inflammatory factor; total saponin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Total ion chromatograms of eight ginsenosides measured using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (ACQUITY UHPLC BEH C18 column; 2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 μm). (a) Panax notoginseng flower, (b) standard. 1: NG R1, 2: Re, 3: Rg1, 4: Rb1, 5: Rc, 6: Rb2, 7: Rb3, 8: Rd.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Total ion chromatograms of eight ginsenosides measured using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (ACQUITY UHPLC BEH C18 column; 2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 μm). (a) Panax notoginseng flower, (b) standard. 1: NG R1, 2: Re, 3: Rg1, 4: Rb1, 5: Rc, 6: Rb2, 7: Rb3, 8: Rd.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Standard curve of ginsenoside Re standard solution.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of UVB irradiation intensity on cell viability and PGE-2 production. ** p < 0.01. UVB: Ultra-violet B, PGE-2: prostaglandin E2.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effect of 100 mJ/cm2 of UVB irradiation on PGE-2 production. ** p < 0.01. UVB: Ultra-violet B, PGE-2: prostaglandin E2.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effect of PNFS on PGE-2, IL-1β, and TNF-α production determined using ELISA. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01. PNFS: Panax notoginseng flower saponins, PGE-2: prostaglandin E2, IL-1β: interleukin-1β, TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α, ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Effect of PNFS on PGE-2, IL-1β, and TNF-α production determined using Western blotting. ** p < 0.01. PNFS: Panax notoginseng flower saponins, PGE-2: prostaglandin E2, IL-1β: interleukin-1β, TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Effect of PNFS on peptide LL-37 production determined using ELISA. ** p < 0.01. PNFS: Panax notoginseng flower saponins.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Effect of PNFS on LL-37 production determined using Western blotting. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01. PNFS: Panax notoginseng flower saponins.
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