The antistress effect of ginseng total saponin and ginsenoside Rg3 and Rb1 evaluated by brain polyamine level under immobilization stress.
The present study aims to demonstrate the ability of ginseng total saponin (GTS), ginsenosides Rg3 and Rb1 to reduce brain polyamine levels in immobilization-stressed gerbil mice. A previous study reported that ginsenosides had an anti-stress property. So, we tested the anti-stress effect of ginseng by investigating the brain level of polyamine, a well-known stress stimuli marker. We determined the brain polyamine levels under 30-min immobilization stress in pretreating GTS (100 mgkg(-1), oral), ginsenosides Rg3 and Rb1 (10 mgkg(-1), oral, respectively). Then, we compared polyamine levels between the non-stressed mouse and the stressed mouse which had taken saline orally to check the placebo effect. Putrescine (PUT) levels were significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the stressed condition, but it was reduced in pretreatment of GTS, ginsenosides Rg3 (P < 0.01, respectively) and Rb1 (P < 0.001) under 30-min immobilization stressed-mouse. However, other polyamine levels did not change regardless of stressed condition or GTS-, ginsenosides Rg3- and Rb1-treated stressed condition. These results mean that only PUT could be a marker for stress and GTS, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rb1 administration lead to an anti-stress effect. Thus, our studies indicate that GTS, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rb1 may play a neuroprotective role in the immobilization-stressed brain.
Lee
Sang Hee
SH
Bioanalysis and Biotransformation Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 131, Cheongryang, Seoul 130-650, South Korea.
Jung
Byung Hwa
BH
Kim
Sun Yeou
SY
Lee
Eunjoo H
EH
Chung
Bong Chul
BC
D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D005849:Gerbillinae; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry; D011073:Polyamines / Q000032:analysis; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099228:Diamine N-Acetyltransferase
D000123:Acetyltransferases; D003345:Corticosterone; D036145:Ginsenosides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011073:Polyamines; D012503:Saponins; D000099228:Diamine N-Acetyltransferase; C097367:ginsenoside Rg3; C442759:ginsenoside Rb1