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Ginsenoside Rg3 modulates spatial memory and fear memory extinction by the HPA axis and BDNF-TrkB pathway in a rat post-traumatic stress disorder

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Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental disorder that can develop after exposure to extreme stress. Korean red ginseng, whose major active component is ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), is a widely used traditional antioxidant that has anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anxiolytics effects. This study investigated whether the administration of Rg3 ameliorated the memory deficit induced by a single prolonged stress (SPS) in rats. Male rats were dosed with Rg3 (25 or 50 mg/kg) once daily for 14 days after exposure to SPS. Rg3 administration improved fear memory and spatial memory might be involved in modulating the dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and monoamine imbalance in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. It also increased the reduction in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) mRNAs expression, and the ratio of p-Akt/Akt in the hippocampus. Thus, Rg3 exerted memory-improving actions might be involved in regulating HPA axis and activating BDNF-TrkB pathway. Our findings suggest that Rg3 could be useful for preventing traumatic stress, such as PTSD.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (2020R1A2C1100975).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea

    Bongjun Sur & Bombi Lee

  2. Center for Converging Humanities, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea

    Bombi Lee

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  1. Bongjun Sur
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BS performed most experiments, data analysis and wrote the first draft of the paper. BS participated in animal experiments including behavioral tests. BL directed the study, contributed to the discussion, edited and approved the manuscript. BS helped with concept development and data analysis. BL contributed to data analysis, wrote and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Bombi Lee.

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Sur, B., Lee, B. Ginsenoside Rg3 modulates spatial memory and fear memory extinction by the HPA axis and BDNF-TrkB pathway in a rat post-traumatic stress disorder. J Nat Med 76, 821–831 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-022-01636-z

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