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Ginsenosides Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 ameliorate dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes

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Abstract

High doses or prolonged use of the exogenous synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) can lead to muscle atrophy. In this study, the anti-atrophic effects of ginsenosides Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 on Dex-induced C2C12 myotube atrophy were assessed by XTT, myotube diameter, fusion index, and western blot analysis. The XTT assay results showed that treatment with Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 enhanced cell viability in Dex-injured C2C12 myotubes. Compared with the control group, the myotube diameter and fusion index were both reduced in Dex-treated cells, but treatment with Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 increased these parameters. Furthermore, Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 significantly downregulated the protein expression of FoxO3a, MuRF1, and Fbx32, while also upregulating mitochondrial biogenesis through the SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway. It also prevents myotube atrophy by regulating the IGF-1/Akt/ mTOR signaling pathway. These findings indicate that Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 have great potential as useful agents for the prevention and treatment of muscle atrophy.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Grant No. S3241314), the Basic Science Research Program (NRF-2021R1A6A1A03044242) through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, the BK21 FOUR (Fostering Outstanding Universities for Research) funded by the Ministry of Education (MOE, Korea) and National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (Grant No. 4299990913942).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Biotechnology and Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea

    Xiao Men, Xionggao Han, Se-Jeong Lee, Geon Oh, Ji-Hyun Im, Sun-Il Choi & Ok-Hwan Lee

  2. F&B Bio Co., Ltd, Cheonan, 31005, Korea

    Kwi Sik Bae

  3. Korea Food Research Institute, Wanju, 55365, Korea

    Geum-Su Seong

  4. Atomy R&D Center, Gongju, 32511, Korea

    Im-Joung La & Do-Sang Lee

  5. Agricultural and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea

    Sun-Il Choi

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  1. Xiao Men
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Correspondence to Sun-Il Choi or Ok-Hwan Lee.

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Men, X., Han, X., Lee, SJ. et al. Ginsenosides Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 ameliorate dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. Food Sci Biotechnol 33, 1233–1243 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-023-01407-w

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