Ginseng Oligopeptides against Benzopyrene-Induced Inflammatory Injury of Lung Epithelial Cells

In this study, ginseng oligopeptides were extracted from ginseng, and the amino acid sequence was analyzed. CCK-8 technology was used to screen the oligopeptides with the best effect on protecting human lung epithelial type II (A549) cells from benzopyrene (Bap) damage. Flow cytometry detection of ginseng oligopeptide-1 (Renshen Oligopeptides-1, RSO-1) at 10 and 50 μmol/L concentration of 10 nmol/L Bap-induced A549 cell apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane. The effect of potential decreased and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content increased. Western blotting verified that Bap at a concentration of 10 nmol/L affects the Aromatic Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR), NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in A549 cells and the influence of AP-1 factor, and tested the inhibitory effect of RSO-1 on Bap toxicity at 10 and 50 μmol/L. The results showed that 10 nmol/L Bap exposure induced oxidative stress in A549 cells (significantly different from the blank control group, P<0.05), activated aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and NF-κB signaling pathway and induce cell apoptosis (compared with the blank control group, there was a significant difference, P<0.05). The concentration of 10 and 50 μmol/L ginseng oligopeptide (Ginseng Oligopeptide, RSO, RSO-1~amino acid sequence-EGHGF) could inhibit the expression of AP-1 factor and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) caused by Bap exposure and NF-κB activation, thereby inhibiting cell apoptosis was caused by Bap exposure (compared with Bap group, both have significant difference, P<0.05). This research would provide a theoretical basis for the application and in-depth development of ginseng.