title: Effects of Ginsenoside Rb1 on proliferation of Schwann cells in culture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of Ginsenoside Rb(1) on the proliferation of Schwann cells in culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Applying MTT assay and Thymidine incorporation assay, the effects of Ginsenoside Rb(1) on the proliferation of Schwann cells isolated from the sciatic nerve of adult rat were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ginsenoside Rb(1) (10 microg/ml) significantly induced Schwann cell proliferation, the effect was similar to NGF (50 microg/ml). At high concentrations of Ginsenoside Rb(1) (1 mg/ml), the proliferation of Schwann cells was significantly inhibited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ginsenoside Rb(1) at the optimal concentrations is found to be effective in inducing the proliferation of Schwann cells, but at higher concentrations the drug is cytotoxic for Schwann cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. haytongwu@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Xitang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiaoxiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Liangjian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D011336:Probability; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; C442759:ginsenoside Rb1