# American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) Extracts (G1899) Ameliorate Immunosenescence via Regulation of T Cell Populations and Aging-Related Proteins in a Mouse Model Induced by D-Galactose and Tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide

**Authors:** Ji-Hye Park, Jaehoon Lee, Chang Hwan Lee, Sun Hee Hyun, Seung-Ho Lee

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/cimb48030315 · 2026-03-16

## TL;DR

American ginseng extract (G1899) improves immune function in aging mice by restoring T-cell populations and reducing aging-related proteins.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates that G1899 extract ameliorates immunosenescence through regulation of T-cell populations and aging-related proteins in a mouse model.

## Key findings

- G1899 reduced p21 and β-galactosidase activity in senescent HepG2 cells.
- G1899 restored CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations in aging mice.
- G1899 regulated aging-related proteins like FOXO1, Sirt1, p53, and CD38.

## Abstract

Immunosenescence is characterized by an age-associated decline in immune function, particularly involving T-cell dysfunction, which increases susceptibility to infections and chronic diseases. This study investigated the anti-aging and immunomodulatory effects of American ginseng extract (G1899) using in vitro and in vivo models of aging. Cellular senescence was induced in HepG2 cells by D-galactose treatment, followed by exposure to G1899 (20 and 100 μg/mL). Senescence-associated markers were assessed to evaluate cellular aging. An aging mouse model was established in male C57BL/6 mice through intraperitoneal administration of D-galactose (500 mg/kg) and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (0.4 mmol/kg), and G1899 was orally administered at 400 mg/kg. Thymic immune cell subsets and aging-related protein expression were analyzed using flow cytometry and Western blotting. G1899 significantly reduced p21 expression and senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity in senescent HepG2 cells. In aging-induced mice, G1899 restored CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations, normalized naïve T-cell levels, and reduced anergic CD28-negative T cells. Furthermore, G1899 regulated the expression of key aging-related proteins, including FOXO1, Sirt1, p53, and CD38. These findings demonstrate that G1899 attenuates age-related immune alterations by restoring thymic T-cell homeostasis and regulating aging-associated molecular pathways.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** CDKN1A (cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A) [NCBI Gene 1026], FOXO1 (forkhead box O1) [NCBI Gene 2308], SIRT1 (sirtuin 1) [NCBI Gene 23411], TP53 (tumor protein p53) [NCBI Gene 7157], CD38 (CD38 molecule) [NCBI Gene 952]
- **Proteins:** CDKN1A (cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A), FOXO1 (forkhead box O1), SIRT1 (sirtuin 1), TP53 (tumor protein p53), CD38 (CD38 molecule), CD4 (CD4 molecule), CD8A (CD8 subunit alpha), CD28 (CD28 molecule)
- **Chemicals:** D-galactose (PubChem CID 206), tert-butyl hydroperoxide (PubChem CID 6410)
- **Species:** Panax quinquefolius (taxon 44588)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** H3P16 (H3 histone pseudogene 16) [NCBI Gene 644914] {aka H3.6, H3F3AP6, p21}, Apc (APC, WNT signaling pathway regulator) [NCBI Gene 11789] {aka CC1, Min, mAPC}, Glb1 (galactosidase, beta 1) [NCBI Gene 12091] {aka Bge, Bgl, Bgl-e, Bgl-s, Bgl-t, Bgs}, Actb (actin, beta) [NCBI Gene 11461] {aka Actx, E430023M04Rik, beta-actin}, Cd38 (CD38 antigen) [NCBI Gene 12494] {aka ADPRC 1, Cd38-rs1, I-19}, Cd28 (CD28 antigen) [NCBI Gene 12487], Cd4 (CD4 antigen) [NCBI Gene 12504] {aka L3T4, Ly-4}, GLB1 (galactosidase beta 1) [NCBI Gene 2720] {aka EBP, ELNR1, MPS4B}, Cd3e (CD3 antigen, epsilon polypeptide) [NCBI Gene 12501] {aka CD3, CD3epsilon, T3e}, Trp53-ps (transformation related protein 53, pseudogene) [NCBI Gene 22060], Sell (selectin, lymphocyte) [NCBI Gene 20343] {aka CD62L, L-selectin, LAM-1, LECAM-1, LECAM1, Lnhr}, Cd44 (CD44 antigen) [NCBI Gene 12505] {aka HERMES, Ly-24, Pgp-1}, Foxo1 (forkhead box O1) [NCBI Gene 56458] {aka Afxh, FKHR, Fkhr1, Foxo1a}, Sirt1 (sirtuin 1) [NCBI Gene 93759] {aka SIR2L1, Sir2, Sir2a, Sir2alpha}, Cdkn1a (cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A) [NCBI Gene 12575] {aka CAP20, CDKI, CIP1, Cdkn1, P21, SDI1}
- **Diseases:** infections (MESH:D007239), injury to (MESH:D014947), hair (MESH:D006201), hair loss (MESH:D000505), hepatocellular carcinoma (MESH:D006528), cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), T-cell dysfunction (MESH:C536780), autoimmune diseases (MESH:D001327), weight gain (MESH:D015430), cancer (MESH:D009369), chronic diseases (MESH:D002908), fatigue (MESH:D005221), infectious diseases (MESH:D003141), inflammatory (MESH:D007249)
- **Chemicals:** American Ginseng Extract G1899 (-), streptomycin (MESH:D013307), PVDF (MESH:C024865), Triton X-100 (MESH:D017830), ginsenoside (MESH:D036145), phalloidin (MESH:D010590), paraformaldehyde (MESH:C003043), DAPI (MESH:C007293), SDS (MESH:D012967), D-Galactose (MESH:D005690), Alexa Fluor 555 (MESH:C000608607), saponins (MESH:D012503), penicillin (MESH:D010406), SA (MESH:D000077145), Tween 20 (MESH:D011136), CO2 (MESH:D002245), saline (MESH:D012965), Tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide (MESH:D020122), water (MESH:D014867), polyacrylamide (MESH:C016679)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng, species) [taxon 44588], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Panax ginseng (Asiatic ginseng, species) [taxon 4054]
- **Cell lines:** C57BL/6 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Transformed cell line (CVCL_C0MU), HepG2 — Homo sapiens (Human), Hepatoblastoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0027)

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13024971/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13024971