Despite a multitude of reports on anti-inflammatory properties of ginseng extracts or individual
ginsenosides, data on antiarthritic effect of ginseng
saponin preparation with mixed
ginsenosides is limited. On the other hand, a combined
therapy of safe and inexpensive plant-derived natural products such as
ginsenosides can be considered as an alternative to treat
arthritis. Our previous in vitro data displayed a strong anti-inflammatory action of red ginseng
saponin fraction-A (RGSF-A). We, herein, report a marked antiarthritic property of RGSF-A rich in
ginsenoside Rb1, Rc, and Rb2.
Collagen-induced arthritic (CIA) mice were treated with RGSF-A or
methotrexate (MTX) for 5 weeks. Joint pathology, serum antibody production and leukocye activation,
cytokine production in the circulation, lymph nodes, and joints were examined. RGSF-A markedly reduced severity of
arthritis, cellular infiltration, and cartilage damage. It suppressed CD3(+)/CD69(+), CD4(+)/CD25(+), CD8(+) T-cell, CD19(+), B220/CD23(+) B-cell, MHCII(+)/CD11c(+), and Gr-1(+)/CD11b(+) cell activations. It further suppressed anti-CII- or anti-RF-
IgG/
IgM, TNF-α, IL-1β,
IL-17, and
IL-6 secretions but stimulated
IL-10 levels in the serum, joint, or splenocyte. RGSF-A attenuated
arthritis severity, modified leukocyte activations, and restored
cytokine imbalances, suggesting that it can be considered as an antiarthritic agent with the capacity to ameliorate the immune and inflammatory responses in CIA mice.