title: Neuroprotective effect of ginseng total saponins in experimental traumatic brain injury.
abstract: In the present study, we investigated whether ginseng total saponins (GTSs) protect hippocampal neurons after experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats. A moderate-grade TBI was made with the aid of a controlled cortical impact (CCI) device set at a velocity of 3.0 m/sec, a deformation of 3.0 mm, and a compression time of 0.2 sec at the right parietal area for adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Shamoperated rats that underwent craniectomy without impact served as controls. GTSs (100 and 200 mg/kg) or saline was injected intraperitoneally into the rats immediately post-injury. Twenty-four hours after the injury, the rats underwent neurological evaluation. Contusion volume and the number of hippocampal neurons were calculated with apoptosis evaluated by TUNEL staining. 24 hr post-injury, saline-injected rats showed a significant loss of neuronal cells in the CA2 region of the right hippocampus (53.4%, p<0.05) and CA3 (34.6%, p<0.05) compared with contralateral hippocampal region, a significant increase in contusion volume (34+/-8 microL), and significant increase in neurologic deficits compared with the GTSs groups. Treating rats with GTSs seemed to protect the CCI-induced neuronal loss in the hippocampus, decrease cortical contusion volume, and improve neurological deficits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-755, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Cheol
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Young Baeg
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung Nam
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Byung Kook
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Hyun Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jeong Taik
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jong Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Suk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005894:Panax; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012503:Saponins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012503:Saponins