Rescue of Helicobacter pylori –Induced Cytotoxicity by Red Ginseng

Helicobacter pylori has been known to provoke gastric inflammation, ulceration, and DNA damage, based on which WHO defined H. pylori as a class I carcinogen. Although ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, has been reported to possess antiadhesion or antimicrobial activity against H. pylori , in this study, we examined the protective effect of red ginseng extracts (RGE) against H. pylori -induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage. RGE significantly attenuated both H. pylori -induced DNA damage assessed by comet assay and apoptosis measured by DNA fragmentation. Inactivation of ERK1/2 signaling and attenuation of caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage were revealed with RGE against H. pylori infection. RGE decreased H. pylori -stimulated IL-8 gene expression, which resulted from the transcriptional regression of NF-κB. In conclusion, RGE showed significant gastroprotective effects against H. pylori -associated gastric mucosal cell damage, suggesting that red ginseng could be used as a medicinal phytonutrient against H. pylori infection.