Effect of ginsenosides Rg1, Rc and Rb2 on hormone-induced lipolysis and lipogenesis in rat epididymal fat cells

Ginsenosides Rb2, Rc and Rg1 suppressed corticotropin-induced, dibutyryl cyclic AMP-induced and epinephrine-induced lipolysis with the relative potencies Rb2 greater than Rc greater than Rg1. The inhibition of corticotropin-induced lipolysis by ginsenoside Rg1 could not be overcome by increasing the dose of the lipolytic hormone while that of ginsenosides Rc and Rb2 was nearly abolished by corticotropin at a dose of 40 nM which by itself produced maximal lipolysis. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP-stimulated lipolysis was also inhibited. Only ginsenoside Rb2 suppressed glucagon-induced lipolysis. All three ginsenosides did not inhibit basal lipolysis or basal incorporation of D-[3-3H]glucose into lipids. Insulin-stimulated lipogenesis was diminished by ginsenosides Rg1 and Rc but not by ginsenoside Rb2.