Work

Crude saponin from Korean red ginseng alleviates di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced urogenital damage via regulating p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticizer and environmental pollutant that continuously accumulates in the body, causing urogenital toxicity. Further, DEHP accumulation can cause glomerulonephritis due to nephrotoxicity as well as infertility by disturbing reproductive function. Crude saponin is the main active ingredient of ginseng and acts effectively to protect against oxidative stress by activating signaling pathways, such as NF-κB, AP-1 and IRF. Here we investigated the effect of crude-saponin on p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling against DEHP-induced genitourinary damage in rats. We conducted an in vivo reproductive toxicity study in 4-week-old prepubertal SD rats. DEHP was administered orally at 1000 mg/kg/b.w., for 28 days and crude saponin was administered intraperitoneally at 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg/b.w. for 21 days from 1 wk after DEHP exposure. Four weeks later, extensive analysis of the mice's blood and tissues was performed to characterize their response to DEHP and the protective effects of crude saponin. DEHP induced inflammation, decreased testicular germ cells, and caused damage to renal tubular epithelial cells and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The expression of MCP-1, a chemokine upregulated by MAPK signaling, was significantly increased in the testicular tissue of DEHP-treated rats (68.3% ± 4.3%) compared with the NC group (47.3% ± 9.8%) ( p <0.05). In contrast, the high-dose crude saponin group showed a decrease of 60.8% ± 3.3%, increased testicular germ cells, and alleviated damage to seminiferous tubule epithelial cells. crude saponin alleviated inflammation by regulating MCP-1 and thereby modulating p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling. While the precise mechanism underlying the favorable effects of crude saponin remains to be determined, present study provides a basis for the preventive and therapeutic potential of Korean red ginseng against urogenital disorders induced by phthalate-related plasticizer.

Source: Journal of Ginseng Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.2025.04.009

Authors: Ji Hye Oh, Seung Hwa Baek, Hee Won Seo, Seung Ho Lee, Seock Yeon Hwang

Institutions: Daejeon University, Korea Ginseng Corporation (South Korea)

Language: English

Topic: Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Research Foundation of Korea, Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea