Protective Effects of Ginsenosides on Cyanide-induced Neurotoxicity in Cultured Rat Cerebellar Granule Cells

Effects of ginsenosides on NaCN-induced neuronal cell death were studied in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells. NaCN produced a concentration-dependent (1-10 mM) reduction of cell viability (measured by frypan blue exclusion test), that was blocked by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist (MK-801) and L-type Ca$\^$2+/ channel blocker (verapamil). Pretreatment with ginsenosides (Rb$_1$, Rc, Re, Rf and Rg$_1$) significantly decreased the neuronal cell death in a concentration range of 0.5∼5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. Ginsenosides Rb$_1$ and Rc (5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) inhibited glutamate release into medium induced by NaCN (5 mM). NaCN (1 mM)-induced increase of [Ca$\^$2+/], was significantly inhibited by the pretreatment of Rb$_1$ and Rc (5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). Other ginsenosides caused relatively little inhibition on the elevation of glutamate release and of (Ca$\^$2+/). These results suggest that the NaCN-induced neurotoxicity was related to a series of cell responses consisting of glutamate release and [Ca$\^$2+/]i elevation via glutamate (NMDA and kainate) receptors and resultant cell death, and that ginsenosides, especially Rb$_1$ and Rc, prevented the neuronal cell death by the blockade of the NaCN-induced Ca$\^$2+/influx.

흰쥐 소뇌로부터 과립신경세포를 배양하여 NaCN으로 유도되는 신경세포손상에 대한 ginsenosides의 보호효과를 검토하였다. NaCN(I~10 M)을 배양된 세포에 1시간 동안 처리하면 농도 의존적으로 신경세포사를 일으켰다. Ginsenosides(Rb$_1$, Rc, Re, Ri, Rg$_1$)(0.5, 5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml를 세포에 전처치하면 10 mM NaCN으로 유도되는 세포사가 현저히 감소되었다. Rb$_1$과 Rc(5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml)는 5 mM NaCN에 의하여 배양액 중으로 유리되는 glutamate의 증가를 현저히 억제하였으며, 1 mM N3CN에 의하여 유발되는 세포내 $Ca^{2+}$농도의 증가를 억제하였다. NaCN으로 유발되는 세포독성은 또한 MK-801, verapamil, NAME에 의하여도 억제되었다. 따라서, NaCN으로 유도되는 신경세포사는 glutamate release를 통한 NMDA수용체의 활성화와 그에 따른 $Ca^{2+}$의 세포내유입에 의한 것임을 알수 있고, ginsenosides, 특히 Rb$_1$과 Rc는 $Ca^{2+}$의 유입을 억제하므로서 NaCN에 의한 신경세포사를 억제하는 것으로 생각된다.