Korean red ginseng saponins with low ratios of protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol saponin improve scopolamine-induced learning disability and spatial working memory in mice.

Abstract

The effects of two ginseng saponins having a different ratio of protopanaxadiol (PD) and protopanaxatriol saponins (PT) on the learning impairment induced by scopolamine, and learning and memory in mice were investigated in a passive avoidance task and a Morris water maze task. The ratio of PD and PT was 1.24 and 1.46, respectively. Before training, the ginseng saponins were administered intraperitoneally at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. The two saponins improved the scopolamine-induced learning impairment at different dosages in mice, 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. However, the two saponins did not show a favorable effect on learning and memory in normal mice. Korean red ginseng saponin with a low PD/PT ratio had an improving effect on spatial working memory, but the saponin with a high PD/PT ratio did not. This finding suggests that the PD/PT ratio of the ginseng saponins may be an important factor in the pharmacological role of red ginseng as a medicinal herb.

• Authors: S H Jin, J K Park, K Y Nam, S N Park, N P Jung
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 66 Issue 2 Pg. 123-9 (Aug 1999) ISSN: 0378-8741 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 10433468 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Muscarinic Antagonists
• Sapogenins
• Saponins
• Triterpenes
• protopanaxatriol
• Scopolamine
• protopanaxadiol

Topics

• Animals
• Avoidance Learning (drug effects)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Injections, Intraperitoneal
• Learning Disabilities (chemically induced, prevention & control, psychology)
• Male
• Maze Learning (drug effects)
• Memory, Short-Term (drug effects)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Muscarinic Antagonists (toxicity)
• Panax (chemistry)
• Plants, Medicinal
• Sapogenins (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Saponins (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Scopolamine (antagonists & inhibitors, toxicity)
• Space Perception (drug effects)
• Triterpenes (administration & dosage, pharmacology)