Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) mitigates PM2.5-induced intestinal damage through regulation of inflammatory signaling and gut microbiota

초록

Korean red ginseng (KRG), a steamed and dried root of Panax ginseng Meyer, contains diverse ginsenosides with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study investigated whether KRG protects against fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-induced intestinal dysfunction in mice. KRG extract was chemically characterized by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS2) and orally administered to mice exposed to PM2.5 for 12 weeks. KRG attenuated PM2.5-induced oxidative stress in large intestinal tissue by reducing malondialdehyde levels and restoring reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase activity. KRG also preserved tight junction proteins, including ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1, and suppressed activation of the TLR-4/NF-kappa B inflammatory pathway. In addition, KRG improved PM2.5-disrupted gut microbiota composition, increased beneficial bacterial taxa, and restored fecal short-chain fatty acid levels. Correlation analysis further suggested associations among microbial recovery, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), barrier integrity, and inflammation. These findings suggest that KRG protects against PM2.5-induced intestinal damage by regulating oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, barrier integrity, and gut microbial homeostasis.

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