Ginsenoside Rg3 Induces Apoptosis While Attenuates Collagen Metabolism in Human Vocal Cord Scar Fibroblasts In Vitro

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Yan Qin, Kang Wang, Zhi-Mao Zhang, Ting Wu, Long Zhang, Jun Liu

 

For citation: Qin Y, Wang K, Zhang Z-M, Wu T, Zhang L, Liu J. Ginsenoside Rg3 Induces Apoptosis While Attenuates Collagen Metabolism in Human Vocal Cord Scar Fibroblasts In Vitro. International Journal of Biomedicine. 2026;16(3):372-377. doi:10.21103/Article16(3)_OA7

Originally published September 5, 2026

Abstract: 

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of ginsenoside Rg3 on apoptosis and collagen metabolism in human vocal cord scar fibroblasts (HVCSFs) and the molecular mechanisms involved.

Methods and Results: HVCSFs were cultured in vitro and treated with different concentrations of ginsenoside Rg3. Cell proliferation inhibition rate was detected by CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and Calcein/PI live/dead cell staining. Cell invasion ability was detected by Transwell assay. Expression levels of apoptosis-related protein caspase-3 and Collagen Type I, Collagen Type Ⅲ (Col Ⅰ, Col Ⅲ) were detected by Western blot and Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
HVCSFs were cultured in vitro and exposed to increasing concentrations of ginsenoside Rg3. Rg3 treatment dose-dependently inhibited HVCSFs proliferation, as shown by the CCK-8 assay (P<0.0001). Flow cytometry and Calcein/PI live/dead staining consistently revealed a significant induction of apoptosis upon Rg3 exposure (P<0.0001). Cell invasion was also effectively suppressed, as assessed by the Transwell assay (P<0.001, P<0.0001). At the protein level, Western blot analysis demonstrated that Rg3 upregulated caspase 3 expression (P<0.01, P<0.001) while downregulating both Col I and Col III (P<0.05, P<0.01). Correspondingly, qPCR results showed elevated mRNA levels of caspase 3 (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.0001) and reduced mRNA levels of Col I and Col III (P<0.05, P<0.0001) in response to Rg3 treatment.
Conclusions. Ginsenoside Rg3 may promote the apoptosis of HVCSFs through activating the caspase-3-dependent apoptotic pathway and inhibiting the expression of Col Ⅰ and Col Ⅲ, thereby improving vocal cord scar fibrosis. This study provides experimental evidence for ginsenoside Rg3 as a potential anti-vocal cord scar drug.

Keywords: 
ginsenoside Rg3 • vocal cord scar • fibroblasts • apoptosis • collagen metabolism
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Received July 1, 2026.
Accepted August 8, 2026.
© 2026 The Author(s). International Journal of Biomedicine is published by IMRDC. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.