Reduction of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by ginsenosides isolated from processed ginseng in cultured renal tubular cells

Ginsenosides, the unique constituents and secondary metabolites of the Panax species, have been known to be the pharmacologically active ingredients of ginseng. Recently, our research group has developed a new processed ginseng, called Sun ginseng (SG), which has an increased amount of the red ginseng unique ginsenosides (RGUG). In our previous studies, this new processed ginseng reduced cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity more than white ginseng in both in vitro and in vivo systems. In this study, we isolated and characterized active principles through activity-guided fractionation. Ginsenosides Rh-4 and Rk(3) significantly reduced the cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in LLC-PK1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The mechanisms of function and structure-activity relationships with other ginsenosides remain for further investigation.