Cerebroprotective effect of Korean ginseng tea against global and focal models of ischemia in rats.
Korean ginseng tea (KGT), prepared from the roots of Panax ginseng, is widely used by Korean people for antistress, antifatigue, and endurance promoting effects. In the present study we evaluated neuroprotective/cerebroprotective actions of KGT in stroke, using rat global and focal models of ischemia. Varied biochemical/enzymatic alterations, produced subsequent to the application of middle cerebral artery (MCAO) and bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCAO) followed by reperfusion viz. increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decrease in glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were markedly reversed and restored to near normal levels in the groups pre-treated with KGT (350 mg/kg given orally for 10 days). It is concluded that the protective action, exhibited by KGT against hypoperfusion/reperfusion induced brain injury, suggests its therapeutic potential in cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) including stroke. These findings are important because: (a) the present treatment strategies for CVD are far from adequate and (b) KGT with wide usage is known to be a safe natural product.
Shah
Zahoor Ahmad
ZA
Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Faculty of Science, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard University, New Delhi 110 062, India. zshah1@jhmi.edu
Gilani
Rabia Afzal
RA
Sharma
Pragya
P
Vohora
Shashi Bharat
SB
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats
D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts