Protective effects of ginsenoside Rg2 against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells.

Abstract

We investigated the effect of ginsenoside Rg2 on neurotoxic activities induced by glutamate in PC12 cells. The cells were incubated with glutamate (1 mmol/L), glutamate and ginsenoside Rg2 (0.05, 0.1, 0.2 mmol/L) or nimodipine (5 micromol/L) for 24 h. The cellular viability was assessed by MTT assay. The lipid peroxidation products malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrogen oxide (NO) were measured by a spectrophotometric method. Fura-2/AM, as a cell permeable fluorescent probe for Ca2+, was used to detect intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) using a monespectrofluorometer. Immunocytochemical techniques were employed to check the protein expression levels of calpain II, caspase-3 and beta-amyloid (Abeta)1-40 in PC12 cells. The results showed that glutamate decreased the cell viability, increased [Ca2+]i, lipid peroxidation (the excessive production of MDA, NO) and the protein expression levels of calpain II, caspase-3 and Abeta1-40 in PC12 cells. Ginsenoside Rg2 significantly attenuated glutamate-induced neurotoxic effects upon these parameters at all doses tested. Our study suggests that ginsenoside Rg2 has a neuroprotective effect against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity through mechanisms related to anti-oxidation and anti-apoptosis. In addition, the inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg2 against the formation of Abeta1-40 suggests that ginsenoside Rg2 may also represent a potential treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease.

• Authors: Na Li, Bin Liu, Dean E Dluzen, Yi Jin
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 111 Issue 3 Pg. 458-63 (May 22 2007) ISSN: 0378-8741 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 17257792 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Amyloid beta-Peptides
• Antioxidants
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Ginsenosides
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Peptide Fragments
• amyloid beta-protein (1-40)
• Glutamic Acid
• Nimodipine
• ginsenoside Rg2
• Calpain
• Caspase 3
• Calcium

Topics

• Alzheimer Disease (drug therapy)
• Amyloid beta-Peptides (drug effects, metabolism)
• Animals
• Antioxidants (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Calcium (metabolism)
• Calcium Channel Blockers (pharmacology)
• Calpain (drug effects, metabolism)
• Caspase 3 (drug effects, metabolism)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Gene Expression
• Ginsenosides (administration & dosage, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Glutamic Acid (toxicity)
• Lipid Peroxidation (drug effects)
• Neuroprotective Agents (administration & dosage, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Neurotoxicity Syndromes (drug therapy)
• Nimodipine (pharmacology)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• PC12 Cells
• Panax (chemistry)
• Peptide Fragments (drug effects, metabolism)
• Rats