Kim, Hyeon-Joong Choi, Sun-Hye Lee, Na-Eun Cho, Hee-Jung Rhim, Hyewhon Kim, Hyoung-Chun Hwang, Sung-Hee Nah, Seung-Yeol 2024-01-19T18:04:32Z 2024-01-19T18:04:32Z 2021-09-05 2020-02 1661-7827 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/119017 Gintonin is a newly discovered ingredient of ginseng and plays an exogenous ligand for G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid receptors. We previously showed that gintonin exhibits diverse effects from neurotransmitter release to improvement of Alzheimer's disease-related cognitive dysfunctions. However, previous studies did not show whether gintonin has protective effects against environmental heavy metal. We investigated the effects of gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) on methylmercury (MeHg)-induced neurotoxicity and learning and memory dysfunction and on organ MeHg elimination. Using hippocampal neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) and mice we examined the effects of GEF on MeHg-induced hippocampal NPC neurotoxicity, on formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and on in vivo learning and memory functions after acute MeHg exposure. Treatment of GEF to hNPCs attenuated MeHg-induced neurotoxicity with concentration- and time-dependent manner. GEF treatment inhibited MeHg- and ROS inducer-induced ROS formations. Long-term treatment of GEF also improved MeHg-induced learning and memory dysfunctions. Oral administration of GEF decreased the concentrations of MeHg in blood, brain, liver, and kidney. This is the first report that GEF attenuated MeHg-induced in vitro and in vivo neurotoxicities through LPA (lysophosphatidic acids) receptor-independent manner and increased organ MeHg elimination. GEF-mediated neuroprotection might achieve via inhibition of ROS formation and facilitation of MeHg elimination from body. English Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) Effects of Gintonin-Enriched Fraction on Methylmercury-Induced Neurotoxicity and Organ Methylmercury Elimination Article 10.3390/ijerph17030838 1 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, v.17, no.3 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17 3 Y scie ssci scopus 000517783300163 2-s2.0-85078949464 Environmental Sciences Public, Environmental & Occupational Health Environmental Sciences & Ecology Public, Environmental & Occupational Health Article FISH LIZA-AURATA OXIDATIVE STRESS DNA-DAMAGE MERCURY MECHANISMS ACID GINSENG LIPOPHILICITY ANTIOXIDANT INVOLVEMENT Ginseng gintonin methylmercury ROS mercury elimination neuroprotection