Role of ginsenoside-Rd in cisplatin-induced renal injury: Special reference to DNA fragmentation

DNA of LLC-PK1 cells cultured with cisplatin was fragmented to produce low- molecular-weight structures. Agarose gel electrophoresis of the DNA reveale d a ladder pattern characteristic of apoptosis, indicating the induction of apoptosis by cisplatin. However, the degree of apoptosis was lower in cell s cultured with cisplatin in the presence of ginsenoside-Rd, and this was a ccompanied by suppressed leakage of lactic dehydrogenase into the culture m edium. The ladder pattern was detected on electrophoresis of DNA in renal t issue samples obtained from rats given an intravenous injection of cisplati n. Such DNA fragmentation was less conspicuous in rats given ginsenoside-Rd orally for 30 days prior to cisplatin administration. Significant suppress ion of the DNA fragmentation was also demonstrated by densitometry, and mea surement of urea nitrogen and creatinine in blood also showed a marked decr ease in their respective levels in rats administered ginsenoside-Rd. The pr esent findings suggest that ginsenoside-Rd ameliorates cisplatin-induced re nal injury, a process in which apoptosis plays a central role, and thereby causes restoration of the renal function. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.