Neuroprotective Effect and Antioxidant Potency of Fermented Cultured Wild Ginseng Root Extracts of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer in Mice

Abstract

Wild ginseng has better pharmacological effects than cultivated ginseng. However, its industrialization is limited by the inability to grow wild ginseng on a large scale. Herein, we demonstrate how to optimize ginseng production through cultivation, and how to enhance the concentrations of specific ginsenosides through fermentation. In the study, we also evaluated the ability of fermented cultured wild ginseng root extract (HLJG0701-β) to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), as well as its neuroprotective effects and antioxidant activity. In in vitro tests, HLJG0701-β inhibited AChE activity and exerted neuroprotective and antioxidant effects (showing increased catalyst activity but decreased reactive oxygen species concentration). In in vivo tests, after HLJG0701-β was orally administered at doses of 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg in an animal model of memory impairment, behavioral evaluation (Morris water maze test and Y-maze task test) was performed. The levels of AChE, acetylcholine (ACh), blood catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain tissues were measured. The results showed that HLJG0701-β produced the best results at a dose of 250 mg/kg or more. The neuroprotective mechanism of HLJG0701-β was determined to involve the inhibition of AChE activity and a decrease in oxidative stress. In summary, both in vitro and in vivo tests confirmed that HJG0701-β administration can lead to memory improvement.

Current Progress on Neuroprotection Induced by Artemisia, Ginseng, Astragalus, and Ginkgo Traditional Chinese Medicines for the Therapy of Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Notoginsenoside R1 increased choline acetyl transferase expression thereby increasing acetylcholine level, in an APP/PS1 double-transgenic mouse model of AD as compared to the vehicle-treated mice [ 121 ]. Polyacetylene compounds in hexane and methanol extracts of ginseng were reported to inhibit AChE [ 122 ], and wild ginseng root extract (HLJG0701- β ) inhibited AChE in vitro and in vivo [ 123 ]. Ginsenosides F1, Rd, Rk3, 20(S)-Rg3, F2, and Rb2 were found to possess strong AChE inhibitory activities [ 124 ].…”

The Antioxidative Effects of Picein and Its Neuroprotective Potential: A Review of the Literature

“…Panax ginseng is an ancient Korean and Chinese herbal medicine that has been used for thousands of years for the treatment of several diseases, including allergies, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, with the ability to modulate neuronal calcium channels and immune modulation [ 44 ]. Not only animal studies [ 45 ] but also preclinical and clinical studies have confirmed the efficacy of the extract and powder and various ginsenosides of ginseng [ 46 ] on different NDDs, such as PD, AD, Huntington’s disease, ALS, and MS, through various mechanisms, including protection against neuronal toxicity, inhibition of caspase-3 and p-tau expression, and proinflammatory cytokines [ 47 ]. Improved AD scale, dementia, and mini-mental state scores have been documented after 12 weeks of using 9 gr/day Korean red ginseng powder or 4.5 gr/day Korean white ginseng powder [ 48 , 49 ].…”

Pharmacological Efficacy of Ginseng against Respiratory Tract Infections

“…It has exhibited neurotherapeutic efficacy in treating multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and Alzheimer’s disease [ 64 ]. Ginsenosides have shown antioxidant effects in cell cultures and animal models [ 65 , 66 ]. Direct ROS scavenging effects and ligand-receptor signaling have been suggested as possible mechanisms by which ginsenoside (Rb1) exerts its antioxidant activity.…”