The Impact of Light Wavelength and Darkness on Metabolite Profiling of Korean Ginseng: Evaluating Its Anti-Cancer Potential against MCF-7 and BV-2 Cell Lines

Nooruddin Bin Sadiq, Hyukjoon Kwon, Nam Il Park, Muhammad Hamayun, Je Hyeong Jung, Seung Hoon Yang, Soo Won Jang, Seda Nur Kabadayı, Ho Youn Kim, Young Joo Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Korean ginseng is a source of functional foods and medicines; however, its productivity is hindered by abiotic stress factors, such as light. This study investigated the impacts of darkness and different light wavelengths on the metabolomics and anti-cancer activity of ginseng extracts. Hydroponically-grown Korean ginseng was shifted to a light-emitting diodes (LEDs) chamber for blue-LED and darkness treatments, while white fluorescent (FL) light treatment was the control. MCF-7 breast cancer and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV-2 microglial cells were used to determine chemo-preventive and neuroprotective potential. Overall, 53 significant primary metabolites were detected in the treated samples. The levels of ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, and Re, as well as organic and amino acids, were significantly higher in the dark treatment, followed by blue-LED treatment and the FL control. The dark-treated ginseng extract significantly induced apoptotic signaling in MCF-7 cells and dose-dependently inhibited the NF-κB and MAP kinase pathways in LPS-induced BV-2 cells. Short-term dark treatment increased the content of Rd, Rc, Rb1, Rb2, and Re ginsenosides in ginseng extracts, which promoted apoptosis of MCF-7 cells and inhibition of the MAP kinase pathway in BV-2 microglial cells. These results indicate that the dark treatment might be effective in improving the pharmacological potential of ginseng.

Original languageEnglish
Article number7768
JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume24
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2023

Keywords

  • BV-2
  • MCF-7
  • Panax ginseng
  • anti-cancer potential
  • ginsenosides
  • hydroponics
  • metabolomics

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