Gintonin is a glycolipoprotein

fraction A fraction (from la, fractus, "broken") represents a part of a whole or, more generally, any number of equal parts. When spoken in everyday English, a fraction describes how many parts of a certain size there are, for example, one-half, eight ...

isolated from

ginseng Ginseng () is the root of plants in the genus '' Panax'', such as Korean ginseng ('' P. ginseng''), South China ginseng ('' P. notoginseng''), and American ginseng ('' P. quinquefolius''), typically characterized by the presence of ginsenosides ...

. The non-

saponin Saponins (Latin "sapon", soap + "-in", one of), also selectively referred to as triterpene glycosides, are bitter-tasting usually toxic plant-derived organic chemicals that have a foamy quality when agitated in water. They are widely distributed ...

ingredient was designated as gintonin, where ''gin'' was derived from ginseng, ''ton'' from the tonic effects of ginseng, and ''in'' from protein. The main component of gintonin is a complex of

lysophosphatidic acid Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a phospholipid derivative that can act as a signaling molecule. Function LPA acts as a potent mitogen due to its activation of three high-affinity G-protein-coupled receptors called LPAR1, LPAR2, and LPAR3 (als ...

s (LPA) and ginseng proteins such as ginseng major latex-like protein151 (GLP151) and ginseng ribonuclease-like storage protein. GLP151 is a first plant-derived LPA binding protein as one of Bet v 1 superfamily. GLP151 has a LPA binding domain on H147 and H148 at C-terminal. These two histidine residues bind to phosphate group of LPA and deliver LPA to its cognate receptors to elicit cellular effects such as a²⁺ transient and morphological changes.

Lysophospholipid receptor The lysophospholipid receptor (LPL-R) group are members of the G protein-coupled receptor family of integral membrane proteins that are important for lipid signaling. In humans, there are eight LPL receptors, each encoded by a separate gene. T ...

s are the high affinity and selective target receptor of gintonin. Gintonin induces a²⁺ transient in animal cells. Gintonin also shows ''in vivo'' anti-Alzheimer's disease effects through LPA receptor-mediated non-amyloidogenic pathways and enhances cognitive functions in elderly human Alzheimer's disease patients and boosting of hippocampal cholinergic system, hippocampal neurogenesis, anti-depression and ''in vivo'' anti-metastatic and anti-atopic dermatitis effects by inhibition of

autotaxin Autotaxin, also known as ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 2 (E-NPP 2), is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''ENPP2'' gene. Function Autotaxin (ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 2 (NPP2 or ...

activity.

See also

References

Further reading