Ginsenoside Rg1 Delays the Aging of Mouse Hippocampus and NSCs Through
the Keap1-Nrf2/ARE Pathway
Abstract
Aging can be caused by oxidative stress. Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling
pathway is an antioxidant pathway. Ginsenoside Rg1 is one of the
saponins found in ginseng having biological activity. It possesses
anti-aging, anti-oxidant, and immune-strengthening properties. However,
the molecular mechanism through which Rg1 affects brain aging is
unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of
ginsenoside Rg1 in aging mice models and to decipher the molecular
mechanisms underlying hippocampal aging and NSCs. D-gal was used to
construct a mouse brain and NSCs aging model. Rg1 treatment improved
brain function; decreased the structural damage of D-gal to hippocampal
tissue and cells; decreased Ach neurotransmitter degradation;
down-regulated the expression of the aging-related protein P53;
alleviated oxidative stress damage: increased SOD and CAT activities,
decreased MDA, 4-HNE and 8-OHdG content; down-regulated Keap1 protein
expression and promoted Nrf2 dissociation from Keap1, and up-regulated
Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression, thus activating the Keap1-Nrf2/ARE
pathway; Up-regulated expression of Nrf2/ARE pathway-related protective
target genes (NQO1, GCLM, GSTM-1, and GCLC), reducing the aging process
caused by D-gal-induced oxidative stress damage. Conclusion: Ginsenoside
Rg1 can protect the hippocampus and NSCs of mice from oxidative damage
and delay aging via the Keap1-Nrf2/ARE pathway.It advances our
understanding of antioxidant therapy, serves as a critical reference for
the prevention and treatment of aging-related disorders of the nervous
system, and gives new scientific connotations to the Chinese medicine.