Red Ginseng Acidic Polysaccharides Promote the Expression of Acne-Related Inflammatory Biomarkers in Lipopolysaccharide-Treated Sebocytes and Outer Root Sheath Cells and Cutibacterium acnes-Injected Mice

BACKGROUND: Although ginseng has beneficial effects largely related to their constituent ginsenosides, pharmacological effects of non-ginsenosides have been reported. Acidic polysaccharides of red ginseng (RGAP) are among the non-ginsenoside constituents that have characterized antioxidant properties. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the impact of RGAP on sebocytes and outer root sheath (ORS) cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and in mice with Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes)-induced inflammatory nodules. METHODS: Sebocytes and ORS cells were cultured and treated with either 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide, 5 µg/ml LPS, 50 µg/ml RGAP or 5 µg/ml LPS+50 µg/ml RGAP for 6 and 24 hours. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, ELISA, Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence staining were among the methods used to detect and quantify inflammatory cytokine production. Mice infected with C. acnes were treated with 2 weeks of RGAP provided in drinking water followed by immunohistochemical evaluation of inflammatory nodules. RESULTS: Administration of RGAP to LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cell cultures resulted in increased expression of inflammatory cytokines like interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α, toll-like receptor 2, p-c-jun, p-JNK and p-iKB (p<0.05). Administration of RGAP also resulted in increased expression of LL37 in LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cells, and increased production of sebum in LPS-treated sebocytes (p<0.05). RGAP also promoted increased expression of inflammatory biomarkers in C. acnes-associated inflammatory nodules in mice (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: RGAP may exacerbate inflammatory pathology associated with acne vulgaris. Ginseng supplements may be contraindicated in patients diagnosed with inflammatory acne.