Phytochemical characterization of wild Panax ginseng and production via adventitious root culture of a senolytic preparation targeting senescent dermal fibroblasts

Several plant-derived metabolites that enhance plant resilience in response to biotic and abiotic stresses have been developed as senolytics after their apoptotic effects were discovered. Several ginsenosides have also been reported to exert apoptotic effects. We therefore hypothesized that ginsenosides from wild P. ginseng , which survives for long periods in harsh environments, may act as senolytics for skin longevity. The phytochemical characteristics of wild P. ginseng were investigated by LC–MS/MS-based comparison of 38 ginsenosides between cultivated and wild P. ginseng . Wild P. ginseng had a 2.7-fold higher total ginsenoside content in the underground parts. Intermediate ginsenoside metabolites, particularly ginsenoside C-Mc 1 , were especially abundant and characteristic of wild P. ginseng . To isolate trace amounts of ginsenoside C-Mc 1 , adventitious roots were mass-cultured from tissue segments of wild P. ginseng . The cultured roots were subjected to a four-step column chromatography procedure (HP-20, silica gel twice, and reversed-phase) to obtain both a crude saponin fraction and purified ginsenoside C-Mc 1 . These were then combined to prepare a C-Mc 1 -fortified ginsenoside preparation derived from wild ginseng adventitious roots, designated wild ginseng ginsenosides (WGGs), thereby increasing the level of the naturally occurring characteristic metabolite C-Mc 1 . The senolytic activity of WGGs was evaluated in senescence-induced fibroblasts. While WGGs maintained apoptotic cell levels in normal fibroblasts at 8–9%, they increased apoptosis in senescent fibroblasts to 18.4–25.9%, corresponding to a 1.3–1.8 fold increase over the negative control (14.4%). This study delineates the ginsenoside profile of wild P. ginseng and suggests the potential of sustainably produced WGGs as senolytics for skin aging.