,Ginsenoside Rg1 reduces MPTP-induced substantia nigra neuron loss by suppressing oxidative stress

• 作 者: Xiao-chun CHEN Yi-can ZHOU Ying CHEN Yuan-gui ZHU Fang FANG Li-min CHEN
• 机 构: Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China
• 出 处: 中国药理学报（英文版）
• 发表日期: 2005年1期
• 关键词: ginsenoside Rgl N-acetylcystein apoptosis JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases

Aim: To investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg1, an effective ingredient from ginsenoside, on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced substantia nigra neuron lesion. Methods: C57-BL mice were given MPTP to prepare Parkinson disease mice model. Different doses of Rgl (5, 10, and 20 MPTP in the pretreatment groups. Glutathione (GSH) level and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity in substantia nigra were determined by spectrophotometry. Nissl staining, tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining, and TUNEL labeling were used to observe the damage and apoptosis of nigral neurons. Weste blot analysis was used to detect the phospho-JNK and phospho-c-Jun levels in midbrain homogenates. Results: Pretreatments of C57-BL mice with different doses of Rg1 or NAC were found to protect against MPTP-induced substantia nigra neurons loss. Rg1 or NAC prevented GSH reduction and T-SOD activation in substantia nigra, and attenuated the phosphorylations of JNK and c-Jun following MPTP treatment. Conclusion: The antioxidant property of Rg1 along with the blocking of JNK signaling cascade might contribute to the neuroprotective effect of ginsenoside Rg 1 against MPTP.