Effect of panax ginseng on the activity of cholinesterase in different tissues of experimentally-induced diabetes in rats

ABSTRACT

In the present study cholinesterase [ChE] activity in seven brain regions [cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, midbrain, cerebellum, pons and medulla oblongata], heart, liver and serum of adult male albino rats were determined following diabetes induction by a single subcutaneous injection of alloxan monohydrate [120 mg/kg body weight], oral administration of Panax ginseng extract [100 mg/kg body weight] for 12 consecutive days and the coadministration of both treatments. The enzyme activity was estimated after 2, 4, 8 and 12 days of alloxan and or Panax ginseng administration. Concomitant variation in blood glucose level and body weight of treated rats were also recorded. The results showed that injection of alloxan provoked a highly significant rise in blood glucose level coupled with failure of the treated animals to gain weight. Moreover, diabetes induction resulted in a general increase in ChE activity in most of the brain region studied. The increase was most prominent in the cerebral cortex while the cerebellum and pons were the less affected regions. This effect may be attributed to differences in the regulation of acetylcholine metabolism in these regions. In heart of diabetic rats, ChE activity exhibited a significant decrease after 12 days, however in the liver a significant increase was noticed after 4 days. Serum ChE was highly significantly elevated after 4 and 12 days. Administration of ginseng alone or following alloxan injection was associated with an elevation in ChE activity in the cerebral cortex and thalamus. Meanwhile, a reduction in the enzyme activity appeared in the midbrain, cerebellum, and pons of ginseng treated rats and to a lesser extent in the cerebellum and pons of rats treated with both alloxan and ginseng. In the heart tissue, administration of ginseng was characterized by an elevation in ChE activity, while combined treatment with alloxan and ginseng extract induced nonsignificant changes. Serum and liver ChE was markedly reduced in the ginseng treated rats and tended to be normalized in rats coadministered alloxan and ginseng thus showing an ameliorative effect of ginseng. It can be suggested that ginseng may possess a significant anti-hyperglycemic effect and may prove to be beneficial in improving the management of diabetes. Besides, it may have selective positive effect on the cholinergic system