Evaluation of the Anti-Obesity Potential of Ginseng Flower Bud Extract

Background: Ginseng flower buds, a part of the ginseng plant, are known to be rich in ginsenosides, which are the active compounds attributed to ginseng's pharmacological effects. Although substantial scientific data have been accumulated regarding the pharmacological activities of ginseng roots, the therapeutic potential of ginseng flower buds has been largely overlooked. In this study, HepG2 cells treated with a free fatty acid mixture and hepatocytes isolated from rats fed a high-fat diet for three weeks were utilised as in vitro models of hepatic steatosis to evaluate the anti-steatotic effects of the extract1. Methods: The effects of ginseng flower buds were further investigated under pathologic conditions of hepatic steatosis induced by a high-fat diet over 12 weeks in C57BL/6J mice. A comprehensive analysis of hepatic gene expression profiles was conducted in mice treated with ginseng flower bud extract. Quantitative PCR was performed to validate the impact of the ginseng flower bud extract on the expression profiles of selected genes. Results: Treatment with ginseng flower bud extract significantly reduced the lipid droplets stained by Oil Red O and intracellular triglyceride levels in HepG2 cells and rat hepatocytes. In high-fat diet-fed mice, ginseng flower bud therapy (500 mg/kg) resulted in a marked reduction in histological signs of hepatic steatosis, with hepatic triglyceride levels reduced by 34.1% compared to the high-fat diet group2. These effects were accompanied by further improvements in insulin signalling. Global gene expression analysis revealed that ginseng flower bud treatment could reverse the hepatic gene expression profile associated with steatotic livers, with regulated genes involved in immune processes, insulin response, and lipid storage. Conclusion: The study provides strong evidence that ginseng flower buds may prevent or treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by inhibiting hepatic inflammation and fatty acid uptake, and by enhancing hepatic insulin signalling pathways.