AUTHOR=Liu Shuang , Liu Fangbing , Wang Tingting , Liu Jianzeng , Hu Cheng , Sun Liwei , Wang Guan 

TITLE=Polysaccharides Extracted From Panax Ginseng C.A. Mey Enhance Complement Component 4 Biosynthesis in Human Hepatocytes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.734394

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.734394

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Panax</italic> ginseng C.A. Mey (ginseng) is a classic medicinal plant which is well known for enhancing immune capacity. Polysaccharides are one of the main active components of ginseng. We isolated water-soluble ginseng polysaccharides (WGP) and analyzed the physicochemical properties of WGP including molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and structural characteristics. WGP had minimal effect on the growth of hepatocytes. Interestingly, WGP significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of complement component 4 (C4), one of the core components of the complement system. Promoter reporter gene assays revealed that WGP significantly enhanced activity of the <italic>C4</italic> gene promoter. Deletion analyses determined that the E-box1 and Sp1 regions play key roles in WGP-induced <italic>C4</italic> transcription. Taken together, our results suggest that WGP promotes C4 biosynthesis through upregulation of transcription. These results provide new explanation for the intrinsic mechanism by which ginseng boosts human immune capacity.</p>