Ginseng exhibits adaptogenic-like activity in mice exposed to hypoxic-anoxic stress through activation of antioxidant/BDNF protective mechanisms and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines/NF-KB signaling pathways

Hypoxic-anoxic stress causes severe injury to the brain cells resulting in various neuropathological complications. Ginseng is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a tonic for healthy living due to its adaptogenic/rejuvenating properties and in mitigating chronic stress-related diseases including vertigo, depression, short-term memory loss, and lack of attention or vigilance. This study evaluates the adaptogenic-like properties of Panax ginseng commercial product (Ginsomin) and the biochemical mechanisms underlying its action in male Swiss mice exposed to hypoxic-anoxic stress. . The mice (20–22 g) were distributed into five groups ( n = 6). Groups 1 (non-stress control) and 2 (stress-control) received distilled water while groups 3–5 had ginseng (10, 50, and 100 mg/kg), orally for seven days. Groups 2 to 5 were subjected to hypoxic stress for 20 min for six days prior to assessment of the latency to anoxic convulsion on day 7. The neurobehavioral changes (motor functions, memory, anxiety, catalepsy, depression, and muscle strength) were evaluated afterwards. Blood glucose and corticosterone levels alongside brain contents of malondialdehyde, nitrites, antioxidant profiles, pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor–alpha and interleukin-6), glutamate, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were determined. The brain acetylcholinesterase, caspase-3, myeloperoxidase, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NFr-2) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activities were evaluated. . Ginseng attenuated the anoxic convulsion and neurobehavioral deficits in stressed-mice. It reduced plasma corticosterone and glucose levels, and decreased the brain contents of malondialdehyde, nitrites, pro-inflammatory cytokines, NF-kB, caspase-3, acetylcholinesterase, glutamate and myeloperoxidase. Ginseng-treated mice had increased brain antioxidant profiles; GAD, BDNF, and NFr-2 contents relative to stress-control. . The results of the study showed that ginseng demonstrated adaptogenic-like properties by attenuating neurobehavioral deficits in mice exposed to hypoxic-anoxic stress via multiple molecular mechanisms, relating to inhibition of corticosterone-mediated oxidative and inflammatory/apoptotic signaling pathways, and activation of GAD, BDNF and NFr-2 stress-protective defense systems. Taken together, these findings further confirm its adaptogenic-like properties in alleviating common geriatric chronic stress-related diseases in Chinese medicines.