%A Wen-kai Li, Wen-bin Ran, Ying-wen Su, Fei-jun Huang %T Effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 in brain of rats with brain contusion %0 Journal Article %D 2008 %J Journal of Integrative Medicine %R %P 911-914 %V 6 %N 9 %U {http://www.jcimjournal.com/CN/abstract/article_823.shtml} %8 2008-09-20 %X

Objective: To study the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the brain of rats after the experimental brain contusion.
Methods: A total of twenty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=2), untreated group (n=8) and ginsenoside Rg1 group (n=16). Brain injuries were induced in rats by a mechanical striking device. The brain tissues were extracted at different times after brain injury (6th hour, 12th hour, 2nd day, 6th day), then the expression of IGF-1 in brain tissue was examined by immunohistochemical method.
Results: In comparison with the normal control group, the expression of IGF-1 in the brain tissues was increased in the untreated group after the brain contusion ( P<0.05). The expression of IGF-1 in brain tissues in ginsenoside Rg1 group was significantly increased as compared with the untreated group ( P<0.05).
Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg1 enhances the recovery of the contused brain through increasing the expression of IGF-1.