Heat Treatment Enhances the Neuroprotective Effects of Crude Ginseng Saponin by Increasing Minor Ginsenosides

Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Apr 13;24(8):7223. doi: 10.3390/ijms24087223.

Abstract

Ginsenoside is the primary active substance of ginseng and has many pharmacological effects, such as anti-cancer, immune, regulating sugar and lipid metabolism, and antioxidant effects. It also protects the nervous and cardiovascular systems. This study analyzes the effects of thermal processing on the bioactivities of crude ginseng saponin. Heat treatment increased the contents of minor ginsenosides in crude saponins, such as Rg3, and heat-treated crude ginseng saponin (HGS) had better neuroprotective effects than non-treated crude saponin (NGS). HGS reduced glutamate-induced apoptosis and reactive oxygen species generation in pheochromocytoma 12 (PC12) cells, significantly more than NGS. HGS protected PC12 cells against glutamate-induced oxidative stress by upregulating Nrf2-mediated antioxidant signaling and downregulating MAPK-mediated apoptotic signaling. HGS has the potential for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Keywords: PC12 cells; Panax ginseng; crude saponin; ginsenoside composition; glutamate; heat treatment; neurodegenerative disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Ginsenosides* / pharmacology
  • Ginsenosides* / therapeutic use
  • Hot Temperature
  • Neuroprotective Agents* / pharmacology
  • Panax*
  • Rats
  • Saponins* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Ginsenosides
  • Saponins
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Antioxidants

Grants and funding

This work was carried out with the support of “Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development (Project No. PJ01712401)” and the RDA Fellowship Program of the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.