The Neuroprotective Effects of Ginsenoside Rd Pretreatment in a Rat Model of Spinal Cord Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

This study investigates the potential of ginsenoside Rd, a component of ginseng, to protect the spinal cord from damage caused by interrupted blood flow during surgery. Researchers used a rat model to mimic spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury, which can lead to paraplegia. The study found that rats pretreated with ginsenoside Rd experienced less motor deficit, had more surviving motor neurons, reduced oxidative stress, and decreased inflammation in their spinal cords compared to a control group. This suggests ginsenoside Rd may have neuroprotective effects. These findings indicate that ginsenoside Rd pretreatment could be a promising strategy to prevent spinal cord damage in patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic surgery, a procedure known to risk disrupting blood flow to the spinal cord.

• 1
  The group treated with ginsenoside Rd showed significantly lower motor deficit index scores than the control group throughout the entire experimental period, indicating improved neurological function.
• 2
  Histological evaluation revealed that the Rd group had a significantly greater number of normal motor neurons compared to the control group, suggesting a protective effect on neuronal survival.
• 3
  The Rd group exhibited decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, indicating reduced oxidative stress compared to the control group.