Total ginsenosides promotes intestinal epithelial proliferation via affecting polyamine-mediated HuR on post-transcriptional control

Ginseng, as a functional food, is widely used worldwide because of its various benefits. This study aims to elucidate the potential effects of total ginsenosides (TG) in intestinal mucosal restitution. Establishing IEC-6 cell proliferation inhibition model by culturing with 5 mmol/L DL-α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO, a polyamine inhibitor) for 48 h. The intestinal injury mice model was induced by 3% Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) for 7 d. TG reversed the cell growth inhibition, regulated cell cycle and the decrease in c-Myc protein expression caused by DFMO, without affecting mRNA expression; TG increased translation efficiency and half-life of c-Myc mRNA, suggesting that TG promoted cell proliferation through affecting translation of c-Myc. Furthermore, TG could prevent the decrease of human antigen R (HuR)/c-Myc mRNA, p-HuR and p-Chk2 expression caused by DFMO, as well as reduce the expression of HuR in cytoplasm while increasing the expression in nucleus, indicating that TG influenced post-transcriptional control of c-Myc through polyamine-mediated HuR pathway for intestinal mucosal restitution. Panax ginseng aqueous extract (PGE) prevented intestinal mucosal injury induced by DSS(improved clinical symptoms and restored colon integrity) through enhancing HuR and c-Myc levels. Our results may provide a scientific basis for ginseng as a potential functional food ingredient and assistance therapeutic agent to prevent intestinal injury.