Journal of Ginseng Research

The Korean Society of Ginseng (고려인삼학회)
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Effect of Korea red ginseng on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an association of gut microbiota with liver function

  • Hong, Ji Taek (Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University) ;
  • Lee, Min-Jung (Department of Life Science, Multidisciplinary Genome Institute, Hallym University) ;
  • Yoon, Sang Jun (Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University) ;
  • Shin, Seok Pyo (Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University) ;
  • Bang, Chang Seok (Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University) ;
  • Baik, Gwang Ho (Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University) ;
  • Kim, Dong Joon (Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University) ;
  • Youn, Gi Soo (Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University) ;
  • Shin, Min Jea (Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University) ;
  • Ham, Young Lim (Department of Nursing, Daewon University College) ;
  • Suk, Ki Tae (Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University) ;
  • Kim, Bong-Soo (Department of Life Science, Multidisciplinary Genome Institute, Hallym University)
  • Received : 2020.04.08
  • Accepted : 2020.07.10
  • Published : 2021.03.01
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Abstract

Background: Korea Red Ginseng (KRG) has been used as remedies with hepato-protective effects in liver-related condition. Microbiota related gut-liver axis plays key roles in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease. We evaluated the effect of KRG on gut-liver axis in patients with nonalcoholic statohepatitis by the modulation of gut-microbiota. Methods: A total of 94 patients (KRG: 45 and placebo: 49) were prospectively randomized to receive KRG (2,000 mg/day, ginsenoside Rg1+Rb1+Rg3 4.5mg/g) or placebo during 30 days. Liver function test, cytokeraton 18, and fatigue score were measured. Gut microbiota was analyzed by MiSeq systems based on 16S rRNA genes. Results: In KRG group, the mean levels (before vs. after) of aspartate aminotransferase (53 ± 19 vs. 45 ± 23 IU/L), alanine aminotransferase (75 ± 40 vs. 64 ± 39 IU/L) and fatigue score (33 ± 13 vs. 26 ± 13) were improved (p < 0.05). In placebo group, only fatigue score (34 ± 13 vs. 31 ± 15) was ameliorated (p < 0.05). The changes of phyla were not statistically significant on both groups. In KRG group, increased abundance of Lactobacillus was related with improved alanine aminotransferase level and increased abundance of Clostridium and Intestinibacter was associated with no improvement after KRG supplementation. In placebo group, increased abundance of Lachnospiraceae could be related with aggravation of liver enzyme (p < 0.05). Conclusion: KRG effectively improved liver enzymes and fatigue score by modulating gut-microbiota in patients with fatty liver disease. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism of improvement of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. ClnicalTrials.gov: NCT03945123 (www.ClinicalTrials.gov).

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by Hallym University Research Fund, the Korea Society of Ginseng funded by Korea Ginseng Corporation (Korea Red Ginseng; 2016), the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (NRF-2018M3A9F3020956 and NRF-2019R1I1A3A01060447) and Hallym University Research Fund 2018 (HURF-2018-67).

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