Protective mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 on hippocampus of aging mice induced by D-galactose / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the protective mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 on hippocampus of aging mice induced by D-galactose. Methods Forty nestin-green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice, aged 6-8 weeks, were randomly divided into four groups control group, ginsenoside Rg1 control group, ginsenoside Rg1 therapy group, and model group. Learning and memory abilities were measured by Morris water maze after the modeling completed. Frozen sections were made to survey the hippocampus fluorescence intensity. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining was used to detect the aging level of hippocampus. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and contents of malonaldehyde (MDA) in hippocampus were tested by chromatometry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α proinflammatory cytokins in hippocampus. The levels of p53 and p21 were detected by Western blotting. Results The learning and memory capacities of the aging model group were decreased compared with those of the drug therapy group; The fluorescence intensity in the dentat gyrus (DG) of hippocampus of the drug therapy group was increased compared with that of the model group; The SA-β-Gal positive granules in section of brain tissue of the aging model group were increased compared with those of the drug group and drug therapy group; The activitives of SOD and T-AOC of the drug therapy group were increased compared with those of the aging model group while the content of MDA was decreased. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were decreased in the drug therapy group compared with those in the aging model group. The levels of p53 and p21 were decreased in the drug therapy group compared with those in the aging model group. Conclusion Ginsenoside Rg1 can antagonistic D-galactose and delay the aging of hippocampus. In addition, improvement of anti-oxidant ability and regulation of the level of p53-p21 pathway may be the underlying anti-aging mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1.