Anti-Inflammation Effect of Small Molecule Oligopeptides Prepared from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer in Rats

The present study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of ginseng oligopeptides (GOPs). For the anti-inflammatory activity, dextran-induced paw edema and granuloma models were used in Sprague-Dawley rats (180–200 g, 12 weeks old, n = 10). Rats were treated orally with GOPs (0, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) for prophylaxis. In the granuloma model, the levels of NO, Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin IL-β, and interleukin IL-10 in serum were evaluated. In addition, in the edema model, the level of TNF-α, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), Leukotriene D4 (LTD4), and the platelet activating factor (RAF) in paw tissue were detected. PCR assessed the effect of GOPs on the expression of MAPK and NF-κB. The results showed that oral administration of GOPs inhibited inflammation caused by cotton pellet and dextran. GOPs significantly inhibited the edema formation via MAPK and NF-κB. These findings suggested that GOPs have a beneficial effect on acute and chronic inflammation, and the mechanism possibly mediated by inhibiting gene expression involved in inflammation and downregulating inflammatory mediators.