GINSENOSIDES INCREASE SECRETION OF LIPOPROTEIN-LIPASE BY 3T3-L1 ADIPOCYTES

Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with either an oleanolic acid glycoside or a 20(S)-protopanaxatriol glycoside increased the secretion of lipo protein lipase activity into the medium dose-dependently. At a concent ration of 100 mu g/ml, ginsenosides Ro, Re, Rg(1), and Rh-1 increased the secretion of lipase activity into the medium ba 119, 107, 56, and 32%, respectively, The ratio of lipase activity in the medium to cellu lar lipase activity was 4.7% in control cells and 8.6% in ginsenoside Re-treated cells, 8.30;:, in ginsenoside Re-treated cells. 7.0% in gin senoside Rg(1)-treated cells, and 6.3% in ginsenoside Rh-1-treated cel ls, Ginsenoside Rb-2, which is a 20(S)-protopanaxadiol glycoside, incr eased the secretion of lipase activity by 16% at 25 mu g/ml, and the r atio of lipase activity in the medium to cellular lipase activity was higher in ginsenoside Rb-2-treated cells than in control cells, Howeve r, at 100 and 200 mu g/ml, ginsenoside Rb-2 decreased the secretion of lipase activity in parallel with cellular lipase activity, Ginsenosid e Rd also decreased the secretion of lipase activity in the same dose- dependent manner, Thus, the effective dose for the secretion of lipopr otein lipase activity with ginsenosides varies with their aglycone str ucture.