title: A systematic review and meta-analysis of Ginsenoside-Rg1 (G-Rg1) in experimental ischemic stroke.
abstract: The neuroprotective actions of Ginsenoside-Rg1 (G-Rg1) have been documented for experimental stroke therapy. We used a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of G-Rg1 in experimental ischemic stroke. We identified studies describing the efficacy of G-Rg1 in animal models of focal cerebral ischemia. Primary outcomes were infarct volume and neurological function score (NFS). In all, eleven studies reported significant effects of G-Rg1 for improving the NFS when compared with the control group (P < 0.00001), and four studies reported significant effects of G-Rg1 for reducing infarct volume compared with middle cerebral artery occlusion group (P < 0.00001). Meanwhile, studies reported G-Rg1 was more efficacious than positive control drug nimodipine (0.7 or 1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) according to NFS (P = 0.009) and infarct volume (p = 0.0002). The results demonstrate a marked efficacy of G-Rg1 in experimental acute ischemic stroke, but raise concerns that our value of effect size might be overestimate due to factors such as study quality and possible publication bias. Even so, the findings suggest G-Rg1 as a candidate neuroprotective drug for human ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine 200092, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-long
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: The center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Wen
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cang Nan county hospital, Wenzhou 325800, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine 200092, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Su-fang
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine 200092, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine 200092, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1