Neuroprotection of Saponins from <i>Rhizoma panacis majoris</i> in Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion is Related to Nrf2-Mediated Antioxidant Response: Role of Nrf2 and Bcl-2 Family Expressions

Abstract

Saponins from Rhizoma Panacis Majoris (SRPM), the bioactive component in Rhizoma Panacis Majoris, were reported to possess protective effects on brain injury, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study was performed to investigate the protective effects and possible mechanism of SRPM on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CI/R) injury. Neuroprotective effects of SPRM in CI/R mice was evaluated by infarct size, biochemical values, Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Bcl-2 family expressions. In the study, we found that SRPM exerted beneficially protective effects on CI/R injury, mainly scavenging oxidative stress-triggered overgeneration and accumulation of reactive oxygen species, improving the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response: role of Nrf2 and Bcl-2 family expressions, and alleviating CI/R injury and cerebral cell death.