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KMID : 1004820070080010015
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Journal of Biomedical Research
2007 Volume.8 No. 1 p.15 ~ p.24
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Effects of Korean Red Ginseng Extracts on the Gene Expression of SOD Family in the Reproductive Systems of Mice
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Baek In-Jeoung
Yon Jung-Min
Lee Se-Ra
Kim Mi-Ra
Kim Yun-Bae
Lee Beom-Jun
Yun Young-Won
Nam Sang-Yoon
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Abstract
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Ginseng has been extensively used around the world for several thousand years as a food or a drug. Constituents in ginseng are known to have several activities such as antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-stress, and anti-fatigue. However, there is no report on the effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on the reproductive organs in animals and humans. In this study, we investigated the effects of KRG on the antioxidant system of male and female reproductive organs in mice. The mRNA expression patterns of 3 types superoxide dismutase (SOD) family [cytoplasmic Cu,Zn-SOD (SOD1), Mn-SOD (SOD2),
extracellular Cu,Zn-SOD (SOD3) forms] were analyzed in the reproductive organs of mice exposed to KRG. The dose of KRG extracts (0, 20, 200, and 2,000 mg/kg body weight) were only treated to 6-weekold male mice for 9 weeks and 8-week-old female mice for 5 weeks, orally. Total RNAs were extracted from male reproductive tissues (testis, epididymis, prostate, and seminal vesicle) and female reproductive tissues (ovary, uterus), and then RT-PCR was performed with the specific primers of each SOD gene. SOD1 mRNA level was not changed in testis, prostate, and seminal vesicle at all the doses of KRG, but it was slightly decreased in the epididymis in a dose-dependent manner. SOD2 mRNA level was decreased in epididymis and prostate by treatment of KRG, but it was gradually increased by 200 and 2,000 mg/kg of KRG. SOD1 mRNA was weakly increased in ovary by 200 and 2,000 mg/kg KRG. In ovary, SOD2 and SOD3 mRNAs were increased by treatment of KRG. In uterus, SOD family genes were slightly increased by treatment of 200 mg/kg of KRG, but were recovered to normal level by 2,000 mg/kg KRG. These findings indicate that KRG may influence on the antioxidant system of male and female reproductive organs, although further study is necessary.
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KEYWORD
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Korean red ginseng (KRG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), antioxidant system, reproductive organs
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