Protective effects of ginsenoside Rg2 against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells

We investigated the effect of ginsenoside Rg(2) on neurotoxic activities induced by glutamate in PC12 cells. The cells were incubated with glutamate (1 mmol/L), glutamate and ginsenoside Rg(2) (0.05, 0.1, 0.2 mmol/L) or nimodipine (5 mu mol/L for 24 h. The cellular viability was assessed by MTT assay. The lipid peroxidation products malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrogen oxide (NO) were measured by a spectrophotometric method. Fura2/AM, as a cell permeable fluorescent probe for Ca2+, was used to detect intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](i)) using a monespectrofluorometer. Immunocytochemical techniques were employed to check the protein expression levels of calpain II, caspase-3 and beta-amyloid (A beta)1-40 in PC12 cells. The results showed that glutamate decreased the cell viability, increased [Ca2+](i), lipid peroxidation (the excessive production of MDA, NO) and the protein expression levels of calpain II, caspase-3 and A beta 1-40 in PC12 cells. Ginsenoside Rg(2) significantly attenuated glutamate-induced neurotoxic effects upon these parameters at all doses tested. Our study suggests that ginsenoside Rg(2) has a neuroprotective effect against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity through mechanisms related to anti-oxidation and anti-apoptosis. In addition, the inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg(2) against the formation of A beta 1-40 suggests that ginsenoside Rg(2) may also represent a potential treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.