Effect of red and black ginseng on cholinergic markers, presynaptic markers, and neurotrophins in the brain of aged mice

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of chronic administration of red ginseng extract (RGE) and black ginseng extract (BGE) on memory impairment in aged (18-month-old) mice. RGE and BGE (200 mg/kg) were orally administered for 16 weeks. Aging induced DNA damage; however, RGE and BGE protected DNA from damage and allowed for DNA recovery in blood lymphocytes. Choline acetyltransferase, vesicular acetylcholine transporter, growth-associated protein 43, synaptosomal-associated protein 25, nerve growth factor, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein expression were significantly increased after treatment with RGE and BGE. These data suggest that chronic administration of red ginseng and black ginseng may decrease the cognitive deficits associated with normal aging.

Keywords: Aging; Antioxidant; Brain; Ginseng; Memory.

Fig. 1

Effect of administration of red and black ginseng extract (RGE, BGE, 200 mg/kg, p.o., 16 weeks) on acetylcholinesterase (A) and choline acetyltransferase (B) activities in the cerebral cortex of aged mice. Values are expressed as mean ± SD. (n = 5)

Fig. 2

Western blot analysis in the hippocampus of aged mice-administrated ginseng extracts for 16 weeks. Lane 1, Control; Lane 2, RGE (red ginseng extract, 200 mg/kg, p.o.); Lane 3, BGE (black ginseng extract, 200 mg/kg, p.o.). β-Actin was used as an internal control for protein expression. Results are expressed as mean ± SD. (n = 5). **p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001 compared with control group