Korean black ginseng extract alleviates Alzheimer's disease-related cognitive impairment by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and suppressing the p38 MAPK/NF-κB/STAT3 pathways and NLRP3 inflammasome via TLR2 and TLR4 modulation
- Authors
- Ha, Yujeong; Jo, Hyo-Sung; Kwon, Tae Woo; Jeon, Seung Ho; Moon, Sang-Kwan; Jung, Ji Hoon; Kim, Min Soo; Nah, Seung-Yeol; Lee, Jong Kil; Cho, Ik-Hyun
- Issue Date
- 2025-05
- Publisher
- 고려인삼학회
- Citation
- Journal of Ginseng Research, v.49, no.3, pp.294 - 305
- Abstract
- Background: Korean black ginseng, a specially processed ginseng through repeat steaming and drying, has various pharmacological effects. However, its role in cognitive impairment remains unclear. Purpose and methods: This study examined whether Korean black ginseng extract (BGE; 50 and 100 mg/kg, orally, 18 weeks) may mitigate cognitive impairment in a 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Results: BGE significantly improved cognitive performance in 5xFAD mice, associated with reduced A beta accumulation in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. BGE suppressed microglial and astrocytic activation, alongside the downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and enzymes (cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase). These changes coincided with the inhibition of key inflammatory signaling pathways, such as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B)/p65, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3, and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Furthermore, BGE reduced the generation of reactive oxygen species and enhanced the nuclearE2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) signaling pathway in the brains linked to the downregulation of toll-like receptors (TLR)-2 and TLR-4 in the brain. Conclusion: Taken together, BGE could improve AD-related cognitive decline and neurodegeneration by simultaneously regulating anti-inflammatory pathways (p38 MAPK/NF-kappa B/STAT3 and NLRP3 inflammasome) and an antioxidant pathway (Nrf2/HO-1) via modulation of TLR2/4.
- Keywords
- EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS; PANAX-GINSENG; RED GINSENG; NRF2; Korean black ginseng; Anti-inflammation; Anti-oxidation; Toll-like receptor 2/4; Alzheimer' s disease
- ISSN
- 1226-8453
- URI
- https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/152491
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jgr.2025.02.002
- Appears in Collections:
- KIST Article > Others
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