Gintonin

Gintonin is a glycolipoprotein fraction isolated from ginseng. The non-saponin 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 acids (LPA) and ginseng proteins such as Ginseng major latex-like protein151 (GLP151) and ginseng ribonuclease-like storage protein.[2][3]

Recognition of lysophosphatidic acid C18:2 by ginseng major latex-like protein 151. (a) Superposition of ginseng major latex-like protein 151 (GLP;green) and the lowest energy major latex protein 28 conformer (yellow). The mutated residues in GLP are represented by red sticks. (b) The electrostatic molecular surface of GLP modelled with LPA C18:2 in close conformation. The positions of the residues that recognize LPA C18:2 are labelled.[1]

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 [Ca²⁺]i transient and morphological changes.[4]

Lysophospholipid receptors are the high affinity and selective target receptor of gintonin. Gintonin induces [Ca²⁺]i transient in animal cells. Gintonin also shows in vivo anti-Alzheimer's disease through LPA receptor-mediated non-amyloidogenic pathway and alleviates cognitive functions in elderly human Alzheimer's disease patients [5][6] and boosting of hippocampal cholinergic system,[7] hippocampal neurogenesis,[8] anti-depression [9] and in vivo anti-metastatic and anti-atopic dermatitis effects[10] by inhibition of autotaxin activity.[11]