The Open Physiology Journal

2009, 2 : 1-5
Published online 2009 April 7. DOI: 10.2174/1874360900902010001
Publisher ID: TOPHYJ-2-1

Ginsenoside Rg1 Modulates Spontaneous Synchronous Ca Oscillations of Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Ru-Lin Liu , Wen-Xiu Li , Min Zong , Min Fu , Yan Zha and Zuo-Ping Zha
Johann Friedrich Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.

ABSTRACT

Ginsenoside Rg1, the main active ingredient of Ginseng Radix which is a famous Chinese medicine, is widely used as an anti-stress, anti-aging and neurological performance improving agent. In this study, we used calcium imaging and whole-cell patch clamp techniques to investigate the effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 on spontaneous and synchronous Ca2+ oscillations and the possible mechanisms in primarily cultured hippocampal neuronal networks. We found that Ginsenoside Rg1 could decrease the frequencies of spontaneous and synchronous Ca2+ oscillations and inhibit the amplitude of high-voltage activated calcium channel currents. These results provided the experimental evidence for the clinical application of Rg1 as a neuroprotector on the cellular level, and enriched the theoretical system of Chinese medicine.

Keywords:

Ginsenoside Rg1, Ca oscillation, high-voltage gated Ca channel, hippocampal neuron.