title: Neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on hippocampal neuronal injury and neurite outgrowth.
abstract: Ginsenoside Rb1 has been reported to exert anti-aging and anti-neurodegenerative effects. In the present study, we investigate whether ginsenoside Rb1 is involved in neurite outgrowth and neuroprotection against damage induced by amyloid beta (25-35) in cultured hippocampal neurons, and explore the underlying mechanisms. Ginsenoside Rb1 significantly increased neurite outgrowth in hippocampal neurons, and increased the expression of phosphorylated-Akt and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. These effects were abrogated by API-2 and PD98059, inhibitors of the signaling proteins Akt and MEK. Additionally, cultured hippocampal neurons were exposed to amyloid beta (25-35) for 30 minutes; ginsenoside Rb1 prevented apoptosis induced by amyloid beta (25-35), and this effect was blocked by API-2 and PD98059. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rb1 significantly reversed the reduction in phosphorylated-Akt and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 levels induced by amyloid beta (25-35), and API-2 neutralized the effect of ginsenoside Rb1. The present results indicate that ginsenoside Rb1 enhances neurite outgrowth and protects against neurotoxicity induced by amyloid beta (25-35) via a mechanism involving Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qionglan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yuan
keywords: API-2; Akt and ERK1/2 signaling; Hoechst-33258 staining; NSFC grant; PD98059; amyloid beta protein (25–a35); apoptosis; ginsenoside Rb1; growth-associated protein-43; hippocampal neurons; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; neurite outgrowth