Ginseng gintonin, aging societies, and geriatric brain diseases

Sun-Hye Choi; Rami Lee; Sung Min Nam; Do-Geun Kim; Ik-Hyun Cho; Hyoung-Chun Kim; Yoonjeong Cho; Hyewhon Rhim; Seung-Yeol Nah

doi:10.1016/j.imr.2020.100450

Ginseng gintonin, aging societies, and geriatric brain diseases

Integr Med Res. 2021 Mar;10(1):100450. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2020.100450. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Authors

Sun-Hye Choi¹, Rami Lee¹, Sung Min Nam¹, Do-Geun Kim², Ik-Hyun Cho³, Hyoung-Chun Kim⁴, Yoonjeong Cho⁵, Hyewhon Rhim⁵, Seung-Yeol Nah¹

Affiliations

¹ Ginsentology Research Laboratory and Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
² Neurovascular Biology Laboratory, Department of Structure and Function of Neural Network, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
³ Department of Convergence Medical Science, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology Program, College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, Republic of Korea.
⁵ Center for Neuroscience Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Background: A dramatic increase in aging populations and low birth rates rapidly drive aging societies and increase aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases. However, functional food or medicinal formulations to prevent geriatric brain disorders are not readily available. Panax ginseng is a candidate, since ginseng has long-been consumed as a rejuvenating agent. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms and the components of ginseng that are responsible for brain rejuvenation and human longevity are unknown. Accumulating evidence shows that gintonin is a candidate for the anti-aging ingredient of ginseng, especially in brain senescence.

Methods: Gintonin, a glycolipoprotein complex, contains three lipid-derived G protein-coupled receptor ligands: lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs), lysophosphatidylinositols (LPIs), and linoleic acid (LA). LPA, LPI, and LA act on six LPA receptor subtypes, GPR55, and GPR40, respectively. These G protein-coupled receptors are distributed within the nervous and non-nervous systems of the human body.

Results: Gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) exhibits anti-brain senescence and effects against disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Oral administration of gintonin in animal models of d-galactose-induced brain aging, AD, HD, and PD restored cognitive and motor functions. The underlying molecular mechanisms of gintonin-mediated anti-brain aging and anti-neurodegenerative diseases include neurogenesis, autophagy stimulation, anti-apoptosis, anti-oxidative stress, and anti-inflammatory activities. This review describes the characteristics of gintonin and GEF, and how gintonin exerts its effects on brain aging and brain associated-neurodegenerative diseases.

Conclusion: Finally, we describe how GEF can be applied to improve the quality of life of senior citizens in aging societies.

Keywords: Brain aging; Gintonin; Neurodegenerative diseases; Panax ginseng; Rejuvenation.

Publication types

Review