Anxiolytic effect of Korean Red Ginseng through upregulation of serotonin and GABA transmission and BDNF expression in immobilized mice

Complementary and alternative medicine: A narrative review of nutritional approaches for cancer-related fatigue

“…[26][27][28] The modulation of important neurotransmitters, including dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid, could potentially explain how ginseng alleviates CRF. [29][30][31] We identified 7 studies on the use of ginseng for the treatment of CRF. Four clinical trials investigated American ginseng and 3 clinical trials investigated Asian ginseng.…”

Brain plasticity and ginseng

“…In Table 2 , recent literatures published within the past three years that can help to understand the molecular mechanisms through which ginseng acts in brain plasticity are summarized. Ginseng has influenced brain plasticity by affecting various cells within the central nervous system, including neurons [ 41 , 56 , [73] , [74] , [75] , [76] , [77] , [78] ], oligodendrocytes [ [79] , [80] , [81] , [82] ], astrocytes [ 83 , 84 ], microglia [ 82 , 85 ], and peripheral systems such as gut microbiota [ 69 , 70 , 86 ]. In terms of molecular level, the effects of ginseng have been observed in the altered levels of neurotransmitters (such as serotonin [ [73] , [74] , [75] , 86 ], dopamine [ 74 , 86 ], and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) [ 73 ]), N-methyl- d -aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits [ 76 ], synaptic proteins [ 56 ], and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) [ 56 , 73 , 74 ].…”

“…Ginseng has influenced brain plasticity by affecting various cells within the central nervous system, including neurons [ 41 , 56 , [73] , [74] , [75] , [76] , [77] , [78] ], oligodendrocytes [ [79] , [80] , [81] , [82] ], astrocytes [ 83 , 84 ], microglia [ 82 , 85 ], and peripheral systems such as gut microbiota [ 69 , 70 , 86 ]. In terms of molecular level, the effects of ginseng have been observed in the altered levels of neurotransmitters (such as serotonin [ [73] , [74] , [75] , 86 ], dopamine [ 74 , 86 ], and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) [ 73 ]), N-methyl- d -aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits [ 76 ], synaptic proteins [ 56 ], and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) [ 56 , 73 , 74 ]. It has induced anti-oxidation [ 41 , 74 ] and anti-inflammation [ 56 , 70 , 85 ], increased mitochondrial function and biogenesis [ 78 , 83 ], enhanced the functions of astrocyte gap junctions [ 84 ], and the BBB [ 69 ].…”

“…Moreover, ginseng was involved in cell proliferation and differentiation [ 79 , 80 , 83 , 84 ]. Through these complex cellular and molecular mechanisms, ginseng has promoted brain plasticity and enhanced brain functions, including reductions in anxiety [ 70 , 73 , 76 , 86 ] and depression [ 75 , 84 , 86 ], and improvements in cognition [ 56 ], learning [ 41 ], memory [ 41 , 56 , 85 ], and sociality [ 76 ].…”

“… Brain Plasticity/Contributing factors Related Higher-order Functions (Potential)Target Cells In vivo (species)/In vitro Model Type of ginseng Outcomes Ref Mitochondria N.A. Neuron In vitro Primary cortical neurons Total ginsenosides Mitochondrial respiration capacity ↑, ATP production↑, mitochondrial biosynthesis↑ [ 78 ] Serotonin, GABA, BDNF Anxiety Neuron Mice Immobilization stress KRG Anxiety-like behaviors↓/Tryptophan hydroxylase, GAD67, GABA A receptor ↑in the cortex/BDNF ↑ in HP [ 73 ] Serotonin, Dopamine, BDNF, Antioxidant Depression Neuron Rats UCMS KRG Normalized UCMS-induced depression-related behaviors./Reduced serum corticosterone./A decrease in serotonin and dopamine turnover in PFC and HP./Increased protein expressions of BDNF, pNrf2, Keap1, pAKT in PFC [ 74 ] Serotonin Depression Neuron Rats SPS KRG Depression-like behaviors↓/serotonin ↑in HP, mPFC. [ 75 ] NMDAR Anxiety, Sociality Neuron Mice CSDS KRG Anxiety-like behaviors↓/social avoidance↓/Recovered CSDS-induced NR1, NR2A, NR2B protein overexpression in HP [ 76 ] BDNF Cognition, Memory N.A.…”