Ginsenoside Rb1 exerts neuroprotective effects through regulation of Lactobacillus helveticus abundance and GABAA receptor expression

Publication date: Available online 19 September 2018Source: Journal of Ginseng ResearchAuthor(s): Huimin Chen, Jiajia Shen, Haofeng Li, Xiao Zheng, Dian Kang, Yangfan Xu, Chong Chen, Huimin Guo, Lin Xie, Guangji Wang, Yan LiangAbstractBackgroundAs one of the most abundant protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides, ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) exerts excellent neuroprotective effects even though it has low intracephalic exposure.PurposeThe present study aimed to elucidate the apparent contradiction between the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Rb1 by studying the mechanisms underlying neuroprotective effects of Rb1 based on regulation of microflora.MethodsA pseudo germ-free (PGF) rat model was established, and neuroprotective effects of Rb1 were compared between conventional and PGF rats. The relative abundances of common probiotics were quantified to reveal the authentic probiotics that dominate in the neuroprotection of Rb1. The expressions of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, including GABAA receptors (α2, β2, γ2) and GABAB receptors (1b, 2), in the normal, I/R, and I/R+Rb1 rat hippocampus and striatum were assessed to reveal the neuroprotective mechanism of Rb1.ResultsThe results showed that microbiota play a key role in neuroprotection of Rb1. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus helveticus (Lac.H) increased 15.26-fold following pretreatment with Rb1. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) surgery-induced effects on infarct size, neurological deficit score, and pro-inflamma...
Source: Journal of Ginseng Research - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research