title: Ginsenoside Rg1 attenuates dopamine-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells by suppressing oxidative stress.
abstract: In Parkinson's disease, neuroprotective therapy to rescue dopamine neurons has been proposed. Ginsenoside Rg1, one of the biologically active ingredients of ginseng, may be a candidate neuroprotective drug. In the present study, the mechanism underlying the neuroprotection provided by ginsenosde Rg1 was studied against apoptosis induced by exogenous dopamine in PC12 cells. Pretreatment with ginsenoside Rg1 markedly reduced the generation of dopamine-induced reactive oxygen species and the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytosol, and subsequently inhibited the activation of caspase-3. In addition, Rg1 pretreatment also reduced inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase protein level and NO production. These results suggested that ginsenoside Rg1 may attenuate dopamine-induced apoptotic cell death through suppression of intracellular oxidative stress, and that it may rescue or protect dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, the Affiliated Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 29, Xinquan Road, Fuzhou, PO 350001, China. XC-Chen329@sohu.com
authors.forename: Xiao-Chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuan-Gui
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Li-An
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-Min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Yi-Can
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Chao-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D036145:Ginsenosides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1; D004298:Dopamine