Korean red ginseng protects against neuronal damage induced by transient focal ischemia in rats

Ban,Ju   Yeon; Kang,Sung   Wook; Lee,Jong   Seok; Chung,Joo-Ho; Ko,Young   Gwan; Choi,Han   Sung

doi:10.3892/etm.2012.449

Korean red ginseng protects against neuronal damage induced by transient focal ischemia in rats

Authors:
- Ju Yeon Ban
- Sung Wook Kang
- Jong Seok Lee
- Joo-Ho Chung
- Young Gwan Ko
- Han Sung Choi
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Affiliations: Department of Pharmacology, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea, Kohwang Medical Research Institute, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
Published online on: January 11, 2012 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2012.449
Pages: 693-698

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Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) following focal brain ischemia/reperfusion injury, in relation to its antioxidant activities. The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) model in rats was employed. The KRG extract (100 mg/kg, perorally) was administered once daily for 7 days following MCAO/R. The elevated levels of lipid peroxidation in the MCAO/R group were attenuated significantly in the KRG-administered group. The significantly depleted activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase was prevented in the KRG-administered group. In the neurobehavioral evaluation expressed as the modified neurological severity score and corner‑turn test, the daily intake of KRG showed consistent and significant improvement in the neurological deficits for 7 days following MCAO/R injury. These results indicate that KRG has a neuroprotective effect against ischemia/reperfusion brain injury by reducing the level of lipid peroxidation and increasing the endogenous antioxidant enzymatic activity.

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