RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Exposure to noise results in pertubations of cochlear microcirculation. There is evidence that these events are mediated, in part, by the calcium channel. The subsequent decrease in cochlear blood flow may lead to hypoxia and predispose to the formation of free oxygen radicals. Saponin extracted from Korean red ginseng is generally known to enhance blood flow and scavenge for free oxygen radicals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the effect of saponin (100 mg/kg) on the cochlear damage induced by noise exposure (1500 Hz narrow band noise, 115 dB, 12hours) in guinea pigs through auditory brainstem response (ABR) and with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), RESULTS: After noise exposure, the saponin pre-treated group showed a significant decrease in the ARR threshold compared with the saponin non- treated group. Also, SEM findings of the cochlea showed that there was a minimal structural change in the outer hair cells in the saponin pre-treated group. CONCLUSION: Saponin extracted from Korean red ginseng can attenuate noise induced cochlear damage in guinea pigs.