Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-neuroinflammatory properties of Panax ginseng(P. ginseng) root by measuring the levels of nitric oxide(NO), tumour necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), and interleukin-10(IL-10) in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia cells.METHODS: Maximal non-toxic dose(MNTD) of methanol extract of P. ginseng root culture on BV2 microglia cells was first determined via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, followed by treatment and LPS stimulation of cells, and the measurement of NO using Griess assay and TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 using ELISA assay.RESULTS: The MNTD of P. ginseng root extract was determined to be(587 ± 57) μg/m L. Following that,NO and IL-6 levels were found to be insignificantly reduced by 6.88% and 0.14% respectively in stimulated cells upon treatment with MNTD. Treatment with ? MNTD yielded similar insignificant result,with only a reduction of 3.58% and 0.08% in NO and IL-6 levels respectively. However, TNF-α and IL-10 levels were significantly downregulated by 15.64% and 34.96% respectively upon treatment with P. ginseng root extract at MNTD.CONCLUSION: Methanol extract of P. ginseng root culture did not show any significant anti-inflammatory effects on NO and IL-6 levels, but might potentially possess both anti-neuroinflammatory and pro-neuroinflammatory properties through the downregulation of TNF-α and IL-10 respectively.

Key words: Panax;;Anti-inflammatory agents;;Cytokines;;Microglia;;Inflammation;;Root culture