The Effect of Ginseng Radix on Regeneration After Central Nervous System Injury

인삼(人蔘)이 중추신경계 손상 동물 모델의 재생에 미치는 영향

Objectives : Following central nervous system (CNS) injury, inhibitory influences at the site of axonal damage occur. Glial cells become reactive and form a glial scar, know as gliosis. As well,myelin debris such as MAG inhibits axonal regeneration. Astrocyte-rich gliosis relates to up-regulation of GFAP and CD81, and eventually becomes a physical and mechanical barrier to axonal regeneration. It is postulated that when the astrocytic reaction is absent, regeneration of axons can occur. It was reported that treatment with anti CD81 antibodies enhanced functional recovery in rats with spinal cord injury. Methods : MAG is one of several endogenous axon regeneration inhibitors that limit recovery from central nervous system injury and disease. It was reported that molecules which block such inhibitors enhanced axon regeneration and functional recovery. Results : In this current study, the author investigated the effect of the water extract of Ginseng Radix on the regulation of CD81, GFAP and MAG which increases when gliosis occurs. MTT analysis was performed to examine cell viability, and cell based ELISA, Western Blot and PCR were used to detect the expression of CD81, GFAP and MAG. Immunohistochemistry was also performed to confirm in vivo. Conclusions : We observed that Ginseng Radix significantly down-regulates the expression of CD81, GFAP and MAG by means of cell based ELISA, Western Blot and PCR. In immunohistochemistry, expression of CD81, GFAP and MAG also decreased. Taken together, these results suggest that Ginseng Radix can be a candidate for regenerating CNS injury.