The antistress effect of ginseng total saponin and ginsenoside Rg3 and Rb1 evaluated by brain polyamine level under immobilization stress

The present study aims to demonstrate the ability of ginseng total saponin (GTS), ginsenosides Rg3 and Rb1 to reduce brain polyamine levels in immobilization-stressed gerbil mice. A previous study reported that ginsenosides had an anti-stress property. So, we tested the anti-stress effect of ginseng by investigating the brain level of polyamine, a well-known stress stimuli marker. We determined the brain polyamine levels under 30-min immobilization stress in pretreating GTS (100 mg kg(-1), oral), ginsenosides Rg3 and Rb1 (10 mg kg(-1), oral, respectively). Then, we compared polyarnine levels between the non-stressed mouse and the stressed mouse which had taken saline orally to check the placebo effect. Putrescine (PUT) levels were significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the stressed condition, but it was reduced in pretreatment of GTS, ginsenosides Rg3 (P < 0.01, respectively) and Rbl (P < 0.001) under 30-min immobilization stressed-mouse. However, other polyamine levels did not change regardless of stressed condition or GTS-, ginsenosides Rg3- and Rb1-treated stressed condition. These results mean that only PUT could be a marker for stress and GTS, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rbl administration lead to an anti-stress effect. Thus, our studies indicate that GTS, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rbl may play a neuroprotective role in the immobilization-stressed brain. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.