title: [Protective effect and mechanism of ginsenosides on central nerve system of animals].
abstract: Progress of studies concerning the protective effect of ginsenoside on central nerve system (CNS) in animals and its mechanism published in recent decade were reviewed in this paper. It showed that ginsenosides could improve the learning capacity and memory in normal, aged animals, as well as in model animals with impaired memory. The mechanism of the protective effect on CNS involves the effects on calcium channel blockade, glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid, antiperoxidation, estrogen-like action, nitric oxide and its synthase, also the inhibition on cerebral nerve cell apoptosis and amelioration on mitochondrial dysfunction, etc.
authors.affiliation: Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Press, Beijing 100091. wangweixia@sina.com
authors.forename: Wei-xia
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ke-ji
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C442759:ginsenoside Rb1; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1