Korean red ginseng ameliorated experimental pancreatitis through the inhibition of hydrogen sulfide in mice

Abstract Aim Effective therapy to treat acute pancreatitis (AP) or to prevent its recurrence/complication is still not available. Based on previous results that suggest that: i) hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) levels were significantly increased in pancreatitis and gastritis and ii) Korean red ginseng (KRG) efficiently attenuated Helicobacter pylori -associated gastritis through the suppressive actions of H2 S, we hypothesized that KRG can ameliorate experimental pancreatitis through suppression of H2 S generation. Methods C57BL/6 mice were pre-administered KRG and then subjected to cerulein injection or pancreatic duct ligation (PDL) to induce pancreatitis. Blood and pancreas tissues were collected and processed to measure serum levels of amylase, lipase and myeloperoxidase and the concentration of H2 S and the levels of various inflammatory cytokine in pancreatic tissues of mice with induced AP. Results KRG significantly inhibited NaHS-induced COX-2 and TNF -α mRNA in pancreatic cells, but dl -propargylglycine did not. KRG ameliorated cerulein-induced edematous pancreatitis accompanied with significant inactivation of NF-κB and JNK in pancreatic tissues of C57BL/6 mice ( p