Paper Title
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Korean Black Ginseng in Microglial Bv-2 Cells

Abstract
Background: Korean ginseng has been extensively utilized in functional foods and traditional medicines in many Asian countries. Among Korean ginsengs, Black ginseng is the root of ginseng which is prepared with raw ginseng by repeating the several times of steam heating and heat drying process. Black ginseng getting through steam treatment had showed the enhanced pharmacological activities, which makes it black in color. Here, we prepared two different black ginsengs, Low temperature Black ginseng extract (LT-BGE) and Black ginseng extract (BGE), and investigated anti-inflammatory mechanism in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia. Methods: For in vitro study, nitric oxide (NO), cell viability assay and quantification of inflammation-related genes were determined. Nuclear Factor �κB (NF- κB) luciferase reporter activity and Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production were also analyzed. Using western blot analysis, protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as well as that of the Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were determined. Results: Two black ginsengs significantly reduced the LPS-induced nitrite production in BV2 microglia without observable toxic effects. The LPS-induced expression of iNOS, COX-2, and cytokines (Interleukin-6, Interleukin-1β and Tumor necrosis factor -α) in BV2 cells was suppressed by the BGE in a concentration-dependent manner. LT-BGE also attenuated the cytokine expression but at less extent compared to BGE. Moreover, BGE and LT-BGE significantly suppressed PGE2 synthesis. The level of phosphorylated MAPKs was increased by LPS treatment but decreased by the treatment with two extracts and thereby inhibits the LPS-induced NF-κB activation. Conclusion: The result of investigation indicated that two black ginseng extracts have anti- inflammatory activity through down-regulation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. Key Words- Black ginseng, anti-inflammation, MAPKs, NF-κB, BV2 microglia.