人参皂甙对缺氧大鼠海马DG区神经细胞DNA损伤保护作用的研究

目的:用单细胞凝胶电泳技术(SCGE)研究急慢性缺氧大鼠海马DG区神经细胞细胞DNA损伤和人参皂甙对缺氧大鼠海马细胞DNA的保护作用.方法:健康成年SD大鼠随机分为急、慢性缺氧正常对照组、急性缺氧组和慢性缺氧组(分别在模拟海拔5000米高原环境连续缺氧暴露0d、3d和30d)、急性缺氧人参皂甙干预组、慢性缺氧人参皂甙干预组.应用SCGE检测海马DG区神经细胞DNA损伤.结果:随着缺氧时间的增加,海马DG区神经细胞DNA的损伤程度加重,尾长、尾部DNA百分含量和尾距显著增加(P＜0.05).人参皂甙能使缺氧损伤的海马DG区神经细胞的尾长、尾部DNA百分含量和尾距均较缺氧组减少(P＜0.05).结论:人参皂甙能有效地减轻缺氧引起的海马组织细胞DNA的断裂损伤.     

人参皂甙Rb3对大鼠海马神经细胞谷氨酸损伤作用及相关机制的研究

目的：利用原代培养的海马神经细胞,研究人参皂甙Rb3对谷氨酸兴奋性神经毒性的保护作用及有关机制。方法：采用原代培养的胚胎大鼠海马神经细胞谷氨酸毒性模型,观察人参皂甙Rb3对神经细胞形态、神经细胞活性、细胞外液中乳酸脱氢酶（lactate dehydrogenase,LDH）的漏出率及总一氧化氮合酶（nitrogen oxide synthase,NOS）、结构型N0s、诱导型NOS活性等的影响。结果：人参皂甙Rb3对神经细胞的谷氨酸毒性损伤具有保护作用。使细胞形态保持完整,活力增加,细胞膜损伤减轻;而且人参皂甙Rb3能增加神经细胞的结构型NOS活性。降低诱导型NOS的活性。结论：人参皂甙Rb,具有抗谷氨酸兴奋性毒性作用,其作用机制可能与降低诱导型NOS活性。增加结构型NOS的活性有关。     

人参皂甙Rb1对大鼠慢性缺氧性认知功能障碍的治疗作用

目的：目前尚无特效的防治慢性缺氧性认知功能障碍措施,前人的研究提示人参皂甙Rb1可能有上述功效,故本实验拟研究人参皂甙Rb1对大鼠慢性缺氧性认知功能障碍的治疗作用及其可能机制。方法：取雄性成年SD大鼠30只,随机分为对照组、模型组、人参皂甙Rb1（2 mg/kg·d）治疗组。采用Morris水迷宫行为学实验检测大鼠学习记忆功能,运用膜片钳技术在脑片水平检测海马的突出可塑性。结果：（1）模型组大鼠寻找平台潜伏期较对照组显著延长（P〈0.05）,在目标象限的停留时间较对照组明显缩短（P〈0.05）,人参皂甙Rb1治疗后,大鼠寻找平台潜伏期较模型组缩短（P〈0.05）,在目标象限的停留时间较模型组延长（P〈0.05）;（2）在高频强直刺激（HFS）作用下,各组均有长时程增强（LTP）现象,但模型组LTP较对照组明显减弱（P〈0.05）,人参皂甙Rb1治疗后LTP明显增强（P〈0.05）。结论：人参皂甙Rbl减轻了慢性缺氧大鼠在水迷宫实验中的行为学改变,并增强了慢性缺氧大鼠海马LTP,证实人参皂甙Rbl可明显减轻大鼠慢性缺氧性认知功能障碍,该作用与其减轻海马LTP抑制有关,为高原缺氧性认知功能障碍的防治提供了新思路,但其具体机制尚有待于进一步研究,本室将在此基础上进一步深入研究人参皂甙Rbl改善慢性缺氧性认知功能障碍的机制。     

人参皂甙抗缺氧缺血性脑损伤的谷氨酸相关机制

目的与方法：在离体海马脑片上观察人参皂甙对谷氨酸兴奋性毒性的拮抗作用,在培养的神经细胞和胶质细胞上分别观察人参皂甙对模拟缺血时谷氨酸释放和摄取的影响,以证明人参皂甙缺氧缺血性脑损伤与减少谷氨酸的兴奋神经毒性作用有关。结果：在人工脑脊液中导入谷氨酸（1mmol/L)20min,引起大鼠海马脑片OPS降低直至消失,恢复正常人工脑脊液灌流1h后OPS难以恢复。而使用人参皂甙可促进海马脑片OPS的恢复,作用以20μg/ml剂量组最好。在培养的小鼠皮质神经元和胶质细胞,模拟缺血时神经元谷氨酸释放量对照的数倍,而胶质细胞对谷氨酸的摄取显著减少。使用人参皂甙（20μg/ml）可明显抑制神经元谷氨酸的释放,并促进胶质细胞对谷氨酸的摄取。结论：人参皂甙减少谷氨酸的兴奋性神经毒性作用可能是其抗缺氧缺血性脑损伤的重要机制。     

人参总皂甙对海马神经元核仁组织者区和苔藓纤维末梢发芽的影响

本文研究人参总皂甙在海马齿状回颗粒细胞层诱发ＬＴＰ效应和促进大鼠记忆保持能力时,对海马神经元核仁组织者区和苔藓纤维末梢出芽的影响。给人参总皂甙第７天可显著提高群峰电位（ＰＳ）幅度,缩短ＰＳ起始和峰潜伏期,并可显著提高大鼠记忆保持能力。此时人参总皂甙可使海马ＣＡ３区锥体细胞和齿状回颗粒细胞Ａｇ－ＮＯＲ数较盐水组大鼠的平均提高６６．１７±２．３２％和７２．０７±０．９３％（Ｐ＜０．０１）;同时还可使大鼠的海马苔藓纤维末梢出芽级分平均较生理盐水组大鼠的平均堤高１－３倍（Ｐ＜０．０１）。提示人参总皂甙可提高神经元内ｒＤＮＡ的转录活性促进蛋白质合成,同时还可促进海马苔藓纤维末梢出芽以提高海马突触的传递功效。     

人参皂甙Rb3抗缺血低氧性脑损伤及其机制的研究

目的：利用整体动物、离体海马脑片、原代培养的海马神经细胞作为实验对象,研究人参皂甙Rb3抗缺血低氧性脑损伤作用及相关机制。方法：①在密闭三角烧瓶中观察小白鼠低氧存活时间。②在离体海马脑片上观察顺向群锋电位（OPS）的恢复率、恢复程度及低氧损伤电位（HIP）出现率。③低压舱作为全脑低氧模型,采用NADPH-d法,观察一氧化氮合酶（NOS）阳性细胞数、平均光密度值。④采用原代培养海马神经细胞低氧模型,观察神经细胞形态、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）漏出率及总NOS、结构型一氧化氮舍酶（cNOS）、诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）活性。结果：①小白鼠低氧存活时间人参皂甙Rb3组较正常组明显延长,并具有剂量依赖性,以10mmol／L组最为显著。②人参皂甙Rb,对海马脑片缺血时CAl区诱发场电位的影响：对照组海马脑片模拟缺血时全部出现HIP,复氧供糖1h后OPS恢复率为0％,OPS恢复程度平均为缺血前的5,42％。使用人参皂甙Rb3后,HIP出现率明显下降,复氧供糖1h后OPS恢复率、OPS恢复程度均增加,以60μmol／L作用最为显著。③人参皂甙Rb3使海马CAI区锥体细胞层NOS阳性细胞数、平均光密度值下降。④人参皂甙Rb3能使细胞外液中LDH的漏出减少、总NOS、iNOS活性下降。结论：人参皂甙Rb,对缺血低氧性脑损伤有保护作用,并具有剂量依赖性,作用机制可能与降低低氧损伤时细胞膜通透性,减少NOS表达,抑制NOS的活性,尤其是诱导型NOS活性有关。     

人参总皂甙对海马神经元核仁组织者区和苔藓纤维末梢发芽的…

本文研究人参总皂甙在海马齿状回颗粒细胞层诱发ＬＴＰ效应和促进大鼠记忆保持能力时,对海马神经元核仁组织者区和苔藓纤维末梢出芽的影响。给人参总皂甙第７天可显著提高群峰电位幅度。缩短ＰＳ起始和峰潜伏期,并可显著提高大鼠记忆保持能力,此时人参总皂甙可使海马ＣＡ３区锥体细胞和齿状回颗粒细胞Ａｇ－ＮＯＲ数较盐水组大鼠的平均提高６６．１７±２．３２％和７２．０７±０．９３％（Ｐ〈０．０１）。同时还可使大鼠的海马     

竹叶黄酮缓解异氟醚引起的老年大鼠认知功能障碍

研究竹叶黄酮对异氟醚吸入诱发老年大鼠神经细胞凋亡及认知功能障碍的影响.分离培养原代海马神经细胞,暴露于体积分数为2%异氟醚6 h后,分别给予50、80及100 mg/L竹叶黄酮处理,MTT法检测细胞增殖能力,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡情况.大鼠经吸入1.4%体积的异氟醚2 h后,分别于1~5 d连续腹腔注射25、50、100 mg/kg竹叶黄酮,于第6天进行水迷宫实验检测大鼠空间学习记忆能力,ELISA法检测海马组织匀浆中的Aβ1-42、TNF-α、INF-γ含量.结果发现,竹叶黄酮可显著促进海马神经细胞的增殖,并且抑制异氟醚所致的海马神经细胞凋亡.与异氟醚单独处理组相比较,各浓度竹叶黄酮可显著降低大鼠逃避潜伏期并增加大鼠过台次数,ELISA结果显示竹叶黄酮可显著抑制海马组织中Aβ1-42、TNF-α及INF-γ的表达.表明竹叶黄酮可增强大鼠抗炎能力,抑制海马组织中Aβ1-42的产生,从而抑制异氟醚所致的老年大鼠神经损伤及认知功能障碍.     

老龄大鼠海马CA_3区神经元的酶细胞化学改变及人参茎叶皂甙的抗衰老作用

本实验应用酶细胞化学方法观察了老龄大鼠海马ＣＡ３区神经元的琥珀酸脱氢酶（ＳＤＨ）,酸性磷酸酶（ＡＣＰａｓｅ）的衰老变化,同时对比观察了人参茎叶皂甙的抗衰老作用。实验数据由彩色显微图像分析系统进行定量分析。实验结果提示老龄时海马ＣＡ３区神经元ＳＤＨ酶活性减弱,ＡＣＰａｓｅ活性增强。而人参茎叶皂甙具有促进神经元ＳＤＨ酶活性,降低ＡＣＰａｓｅ活性的作用。本结果为老龄时学习记忆能力下降及人参茎叶皂甙延缓衰老提供了一定的酶细胞化学变化的依据。     

甘丙肽提高离体海马神经细胞在过氧化氢损伤中的存活率

实验运用离体培养的大鼠海马神经细胞,观察了过氧化氢对海马神经细胞的损伤效应及甘丙肽(GAL)对氧化应激过程中海马神经细胞的保护作用。结果显示,过氧化氢对海马神经细胞具有明显的剂量相关毒性效应。甘丙肽以及甘丙肽非特异性受体激动剂GAL1-11和甘丙肽受体2 (GalR-2)特异性激动剂GAL2-11能显著减少海马神经细胞在氧化应激过程中的损伤反应,这种效应可被GAL非特异性受体阻断剂M35阻断。实验提示GAL对氧化应激导致的海马神经细胞损伤具有保护作用,这种作用很有可能是由GalR-2受体介导。     

Multi-faced neuroprotective effects of Ginsenoside Rg1 in an Alzheimer mouse model

There has been no extensive characterization of the effects of Ginsenoside Rg1, a pharmacological active component purified from the nature product ginseng, in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. The well-characterized transgenic Alzheimer disease (AD) mice over expressing amyloid precursor protein (APP)/Aβ (Tg mAPP) and nontransgenic (nonTg) littermates at age of 6 and 9 months were treated with Rg 1 for three months via intraperitoneal injection. Mice were then evaluated for changes in amyloid pathology, neuropathology and behavior. Tg mAPP treated with Rg1 showed a significant reduction of cerebral Aβ levels, reversal of certain neuropathological changes, and preservation of spatial learning and memory, as compared to vehicle-treated mice. Rg1 treatment inhibited activity of γ-secretase in both Tg mAPP mice and B103-APP cells, indicating the involvement of Rg1 in APP regulation pathway. Furthermore, administration of Rg1 enhanced PKA/CREB pathway activation in mAPP mice and in cultured cortical neurons exposed to Aβ or glutamate-mediated synaptic stress. Most importantly, the beneficial effects on attenuation of cerebral Aβ accumulation, improvement in neuropathological and behavioral changes can be extended to the aged mAPP mice, even to 12-13 months old mice that had extensive amyloid pathology and severe neuropathological and cognitive malfunction. These studies indicate that Rg1 has profound multi-faced and neuroprotective effects in an AD mouse model. Rg1 induces neuroprotection through ameliorating amyloid pathology, modulating APP process, improving cognition, and activating PKA/CREB signaling. These findings provide a new perspective for the treatment of AD and demonstrate potential for a new class of drugs for AD treatment.     

Ginsenoside RG1 and corticosteroid receptors in rat brain

Old (28 months) male Wistar rats were treated chronically for two weeks with ginsenoside Rg1 or with vehicle delivered via sc implanted Alzet mini-pumps (rate of ginsenoside release 2.4 micrograms/0.5 microliter/h). The number of Type 1 corticosterone-preferring receptor sites (CR) and Type 2 glucocorticoid receptors (GR) was measured in the cytosol of hippocampus tissue of rat brain with an in vitro binding assay. In old rats the Bmax of Type 1 CR and Type 2 GR was reduced by 51.5% and 28.3% respectively. Following the two week treatment with Rg1 the Bmax of Type 1 CR increased by 60% and a receptor concentration was reached which was 21% lower than that observed in the young control animals. Minor differences in affinity of steroid binding to both receptor systems were observed in the groups of rats. The possible binding of ginsenosides to brain corticosteroid receptors in vitro was investigated as well. The inclusion of a 500 fold molar excess of Rg1 in hippocampus cytosol did not displace 3H-corticosterone from its soluble receptor sites. The affinity of Rg1 with these sites in vitro is therefore negligible. In conclusion, the binding capacity of Type 1 CR and Type 2 GR is reduced in the hippocampal brain region of aged rats. Upon chronic infusion of ginsenoside Rg1, only Type 1 CR capacity is restored towards the level observed in young control animals. This finding suggests that in old rats the ginsenoside enhances the CORT signal via Type 1 CR on the function of the hippocampus, which is a limbic brain structure involved in cognition, mood and affect.     

Ginsenoside Rg1, a novel glucocorticoid receptor agonist of plant origin, maintains glucocorticoid efficacy with reduced side effects

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used to treat inflammatory diseases. However, they cause debilitating side effects, which limit the use of these compounds. In the past decade, many researchers have attempted to find so-called dissociated GCs that have separate distinct transactivation and transrepression activities. Anti-inflammation of GCs is a result of glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated transactivation and transrepression in some tissues, similar to their side effects; therefore, the goal to discover a compound that has anti-inflammatory properties, but lacks the negative side effects seen with GCs, has yet to be achieved. In the present study, we introduce a plant-derived compound, ginsenoside Rg1, which possesses GC and estrogen-like activities. In this study, we show that Rg1 downmodulates LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine release and inhibits NF-κB nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity. The negative effects on NF-κB activation are due to a decrease in IκB phosphorylation and protein stabilization. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of Rg1 on NF-κB is GR-dependent, as small interfering RNA knockdown of GR abrogated this function. Rg1 also displayed profound inhibitory effects on LPS-induced MAPK activation. Importantly, Rg1 did not impair proliferation or differentiation of mouse osteoblasts. Finally, we show that Rg1 can effectively inhibit acute and chronic inflammation in vivo, but it does not cause hyperglycemia or osteoporosis as seen with dexamethasone. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 may serve as a novel anti-inflammatory agent and may exhibit a potential profile for therapeutic intervention in inflammatory diseases.     

Ginsenoside content and variation among and within American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) populations

The contents of five ginsenosides (Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc and Rd) were measured in American ginseng roots collected from 10 populations grown in Maryland. Ginsenoside contents and compositions varied significantly among populations and protopanaxatriol (Rg1 and Re) ginsenosides were inversely correlated within root samples and among populations. The most abundant ginsenoside within a root and by population was either Rg1 or Re, followed by Rb1. Ginseng populations surveyed grouped into two chemotypes based on the relative compositions of Rg1 and Re. Four populations, including the control population in which plants were grown from TN and WI seed sources, contained roots with the recognized chemotype for American ginseng of low Rg1 composition relative to Re. The remaining 6 populations possessed roots with a distinctive chemotype of high relative Rg1 to Re compositions. Chemotype did not vary by production type (wild versus cultivated) and roots within a population rarely exhibited chemotypes different from the overall population chemotype. These results provide support for recent evidence that relative Rg1 to Re ginsenoside contents in American ginseng roots vary by region and that these differences are likely influenced more by genotype than environmental factors. Because the physiological and medicinal effects of different ginsenosides differ and can even be oppositional, our findings indicate the need for fingerprinting ginseng samples for regulation and recommended usage. Also, the High Rg1/Low Re chemotype discovered in MD could potentially be used therapeutically for coronary health based on recent evidence of the positive effects of Rg1 on vascular growth.     

Ginsenoside Rg1 exerts estrogen-like activities via ligand-independent activation of ERalpha pathway

Ginsenoside Rg1, an active ingredient commonly found in ginseng root, was previously demonstrated to be a phytoestrogen that exerted estrogen-like activity without direct interaction with estrogen receptors (ERs) in human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. The present study was designed to determine the molecular mechanism by which Rg1 exerted estrogenic effects. Co-incubation of MCF-7 cells with 1 microM of ER antagonist ICI182780 abolished the inductive effects of Rg1 on pS2 expression as well as ERE-luciferase activity, suggesting that the estrogenic effects of Rg1 were mediated through the endogenous ERs. To evaluate the relative involvement of ERalpha and ERbeta in mediating the actions of Rg1, ER-negative human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells were co-transfected with the ERE-luciferase reporter construct and either ERalpha or ERbeta construct. The results showed that Rg1 could activate ERE-luciferase activity via the ERalpha-mediated pathway in a dose-dependent manner (10(-14) to 10(-6)M); whereas, the activation of ERbeta-mediated ERE-luciferase activity by Rg1 only occur at high concentration (10(-6)M). Furthermore, the results showed that 1pM Rg1 could rapidly induce phosphorylation of the AF-1 domain of ERalpha at serine 118 residue within the first 5 min of incubation, suggesting that Rg1 activates ERalpha in a ligand-independent manner. Taken together, our results indicate that Rg1 preferentially activates ERalpha via phosphorylation of AF-1 domain in the absence of receptor binding. This study is the first to provide evidence that ginsenoside Rg1 exerts estrogen-like actions via ligand-independent activation of ERalpha pathway.     

Proteomic analysis effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on human umbilical vein endothelial cells stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Ginsenoside Rg1 (derived from ginseng root) has been found to have many vasoprotective activities. The present study was undertaken to examine effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the secretion of nitric oxide (NO) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated with or without tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). We showed here that ginsenoside Rg1 can increase the basal and TNF-alpha-attenuated NO production in a dose-dependent manner. As little is known regarding the vascular molecular mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 on HUVECs and proteomic technique has more advantages in molecular identification, we attempted to use proteomic analysis to explain vascular molecular mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 on HUVECs. Proteomic analytical result showed that 21 protein spots were changed in TNF-alpha stimulated HUVECs, including 9 up-regulated spots, 11 down-regulated spots, and 1 spot detected in TNF-alpha stimulated group only. The expression level of proteins such as MEKK3, phosphoglycerate mutase was increased, and nitric-oxide synthase, mineralocorticoid receptor were decreased in TNF-alpha stimulated HUVECs, while ginsenoside Rg1 could prevent this change or reverse to some degree. This study suggested that NO production increased via ginsenoside Rg1 played an important role in the protective effect on TNF-alpha stimulated HUVECs and was helpful to deeply understand the active mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 to HUVECs at the molecular level.     

Specific Activation of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Receptor by Ginsenoside Rg5 Promotes Angiogenesis and Vasorelaxation

Ginsenoside Rg5 is a compound newly synthesized during the steaming process of ginseng; however, its biological activity has not been elucidated with regard to endothelial function. We found that Rg5 stimulated in vitro angiogenesis of human endothelial cells, consistent with increased neovascularization and blood perfusion in a mouse hind limb ischemia model. Rg5 also evoked vasorelaxation in aortic rings isolated from wild type and high cholesterol-fed ApoE^−/− mice but not from endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) knock-out mice. Angiogenic activity of Rg5 was highly associated with a specific increase in insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) phosphorylation and subsequent activation of multiple angiogenic signals, including ERK, FAK, Akt/eNOS/NO, and G_i-mediated phospholipase C/Ca²⁺/eNOS dimerization pathways. The vasodilative activity of Rg5 was mediated by the eNOS/NO/cGMP axis. IGF-1R knockdown suppressed Rg5-induced angiogenesis and vasorelaxation by inhibiting key angiogenic signaling and NO/cGMP pathways. In silico docking analysis showed that Rg5 bound with high affinity to IGF-1R at the same binding site of IGF. Rg5 blocked binding of IGF-1 to its receptor with an IC₅₀ of ∼90 nmol/liter. However, Rg5 did not induce vascular inflammation and permeability. These data suggest that Rg5 plays a novel role as an IGF-1R agonist, promoting therapeutic angiogenesis and improving hypertension without adverse effects in the vasculature.     

Elevated mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling and increased macrophage activation in cells infected with a glycopeptidolipid-deficient Mycobacterium avium

Mycobacterium avium is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in AIDS patients. M. avium can be isolated as three major morphotypes: smooth-transparent (SmT ), smooth-opaque (SmO) and rough (Rg). Studies indicate that many Rg isolates lack or have modified glycopeptidolipids (GPLs). GPLs are major surface constituents of the M. avium cell wall and heterogeneity in their carbohydrate moieties has been used to classify M. avium into different serotypes, with serotypes 1, 4 and 8 being isolated with high frequency from AIDS patients. However, it is unclear what role GPLs play in M. avium pathogenicity. To begin to address how the absence of GPLs affects M. avium-macrophage interaction, we used the well-characterized M. avium 2151 SmT and Rg isolates which differ in GPL expression. We found macrophages infected with the Rg compared with SmT M. avium 2151 showed prolonged activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) p38 and ERK1/2. Macrophages infected with the Rg 2151 also showed increased tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production. Interestingly, TNF-alpha secretion by macrophages infected with SmO or SmT 2151 was dependent on p38, ERK1/2 and NF-kappaB while TNF-alpha secretion by Rg 2151-infected macrophages was dependent on NF-kappaB but not the MAPKs. Rg 2151-infected macrophages also produced increased levels of IL-6, IL-12, MCP-1 and RANTES relative to macrophages infected with SmT 2151. These results indicate that M. avium 2151 deficient in GPLs promote increased macrophage activation. This disparity in cellular activation stems from a quantitative and qualitative difference in the macrophage signalling response to the Rg and SmT M. avium 2151.