Panax ginseng components and the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (Review)

Abstract

Ginseng is one of the main representatives of traditional Chinese medicine and presents a wide range of pharmacological actions. Ginsenosides are the main class of active compounds found in ginseng. They demonstrate unique biological activity and medicinal value, namely antitumour, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as anti-apoptotic properties. Increasing levels of stress in life are responsible for the increased incidence of nervous system diseases. Neurological diseases create a huge burden on the lives and health of individuals. In recent years, studies have indicated that ginsenosides play a pronounced positive role in the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases. Nevertheless, research is still at an early stage of development, and the complex mechanisms of action involved remain largely unknown. This review aimed to shed light into what is currently known about the mechanisms of action of ginsenosides in relation to Alzheimer's disease. Scientific material and theoretical bases for the treatment of nervous system diseases with purified Panax ginseng extracts are also discussed.

Study on the Multitarget Synergistic Effects of Kai-Xin-San against Alzheimer’s Disease Based on Systems Biology

“…Interestingly, with the multitarget and multicomponent treatment characteristics, TCM had unique advantages in dealing with AD [15,16]. It has been proven that Panax ginseng, one of the main representatives of TCM, was effective in treating AD, and the key mechanism has been revealed to be related to the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway [17]. A series of formula studies on the Panax ginseng/Polygala tenuifolia combination yielded varying improvements in the course of AD and the most representative formula was Kai-Xin-San (KXS), initially recorded in Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang in Tang dynasty (AD 652) [18,19].…”

Integrated meta-analysis, network pharmacology, and molecular docking to investigate the efficacy and potential pharmacological mechanism of Kai-Xin-San on Alzheimer's disease

“…In the same line, fumarine has been reported to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity and reduce memory impairment (Kim et al 1999). Furthermore, ginsenoside-rh4 was found to be involved in anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuronal protection (Razgonova et al 2019;Wang et al 2019). Collectively, these findings suggested that the main KXS components are effective for treating AD.…”

Identification and Analysis of Components in Yizhi Granule and Cynomolgus Monkey Plasma after Oral Administration by UPLC/ESI-Q-TOF MS and Their Protective Effects on PC12 Cells

“…e related effects of these six herbs in YZG have also been reported. Ginsenosides can reduce the formation of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) through inhibiting β-and c-secretase activity or by activating the nonamyloidogenic pathway, inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity and induced neurotoxicity, and reduce the generation of reactive oxygen species and neuroinflammatory response by Aβ [44,45]. Panax notoginseng can regulate the expression of AD-related circRNAs to achieve the therapeutic effect on AD [46].…”