title: Neuroprotective effects of ginseng pectin through the activation of             ERK/MAPK and Akt survival signaling pathways.
abstract: In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective activities of ginseng             pectin (GP) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced neuronal toxicity in different             neuronal cells. GP selectively attenuated H2O2-induced damage up to 26% in primary             cortical neuron cells and human glioblastoma U87 cells. Following H2O2 exposure,             DAPI staining and neuron-specific β-tubulin antibody probing indicated that GP             maintained cell integrity and decreased nuclei condensation. Data from western             blot analysis revealed that pre-treatment with GP increased the phosphorylation             of both the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and Akt in             cortical neuron cells. However, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was increased, but             that of Akt was decreased in U87 cells. These results suggest that the protective             effects of GP against H2O2-induced apoptosis may be due to the activation of the             phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt; however, the mechanisms involved differ depending             on the cell line. This neuroprotective property indicates that GP could serve             as a potential therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin 130024, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Chengxin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiaoge
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xinzhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rajab M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kassim
authors.forename: Guihua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Yifa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010368:Pectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016877:Oxidants; D010368:Pectins; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt