Ginsenoside Rb3 exerts antidepressant-like effects in several animal models

Abstract

Total ginsenosides have been shown to have therapeutic actions as antidepressants. We report a major active ingredient of total ginsenosides, the ginsenoside Rb3 (Rb3), which may have antidepressant-like effects. Using the forced swim test, tail suspension test, and learned helplessness procedure, we found that Rb3 had significant anti-immobility effects in mice in the forced swim and tail suspension tests and reduced the number of escape failures in the learned helplessness procedure. In a reserpine-induced syndrome model, Rb3 attenuated hypothermia, palpebral ptosis, and akinesia. In the chronic mild stress model, chronic Rb3 administration reversed the decrease in locomotor activity, novelty-suppressed feeding, and sucrose preference. Furthermore, neurochemical tests were performed to support our hypothesis that biochemical variations (i.e. brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the monoamine neurotransmitters 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, and norepinephrine) are involved in Rb3's antidepressant-like effects. Finally, we found, using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, that the action potential transmission in neurons within the somatosensory cortex was excited by Rb3 perfusion and blocked with Panax notoginseng total saponins extracted from leaves. This study provides evidence for the mechanism of action of the antidepressant-like effects of Rb3.

Antidepressant‐like effects of ginsenoside Rg1 are due to activation of the BDNF signalling pathway and neurogenesis in the hippocampus

“…However, it is important to determine the active ingredient which improved the depression‐like behaviour. Rg1 shares a similar molecular structure to that of ginsenoside Rb3, which possesses antidepressant properties (Cui et al ., 2011), and has been reported to increase BDNF expression following focal cerebral ischaemia (Shen and Zhang, 2003). Our study provides direct evidence that the active ingredient Rg1 displays significant antidepressant activity.…”

“…Locomotor activity was studied using an open‐field test, and the open‐field apparatus was similar to those described previously (Liang et al ., 2008; Xu et al ., 2008; Covington et al ., 2009; Muller et al ., 2009; Cui et al ., 2011). The mice were placed individually in the dark in a wooden box (100 × 100 × 40 cm) with the floor divided into 25 (5 × 5) squares.…”

Antidepressant‐like effects of fenofibrate in mice via the hippocampal brain‐derived neurotrophic factor signalling pathway

“…Spontaneous locomotor activity of mice was measured in the open field paradigm (Covington et al, ; Muller et al, ; Cui et al, ), and separate groups of animals were used for this test. C57BL/6J mice were placed individually in an open field apparatus (height 40 cm, width 100 cm, length 100 cm) with the floor divided into 25 equal areas (20 × 20 cm).…”

Ginsenoside Rb3 strengthens the hypoglycemic effect through AMPK for inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis

“…Ginsenoside Rb3, one of the major active components of protopanaxdiol type ginsenosides, has received much attention due to its various bioactivities, including antioxidant activity and microcirculatory improvement (11), neuroprotection (12), cardiovascular protection (13,14), prevention of obesity (15) and prevention of diabetes (16,17). Previous research has indicated that ginsenoside Rb3 showed antidiabetic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic mice, and increased glucose consumption in C2C12 myotubes (16).…”