Effects of Red Ginseng Extracts on Response to Environmental Stress, Lifespan, and Parkinson’s Disease in Caenorhabditis elegans

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Background: Cellular oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species, byproducts of intracellular metabolic processes, is considered a major causal factor of aging. Many anti-oxidant molecules have been studied for their anti-aging and lifespan-extending effects in various model organisms ranging from yeast to mice.BR/Methods and Results: This study examined the effects of red ginseng extract on the stress response, lifespan, and age-related diseases using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. Red ginseng extract shows anti-oxidant activity in vitro and in vivo. Resistance to heat stress and ultraviolet irradiation was also significantly enhanced by red ginseng extract. Treatment with a 1/10 dilution of red ginseng extracts increased the mean and maximum lifespans without reducing fertility, which is frequently observed in many lifespan-extending interventions. In a genetic model of Parkinson’s disease, red ginseng extract completely blocked the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and decreased alpha-synuclein expression.BR/Conclusions: Red ginseng extracts have anti-stress and lifespan-extending effects, and can reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease. These findings suggested that red ginseng is a strong candidate for the development of novel nutriceuticals against aging and Parkinson’s disease.