Protective effects of ginsenoside Rb_3 on focal cerebral ischemic injury in rats

Objective To study the protective effects of ginsengoside Rb3 on focal cerebral ischemia in rats.Methods 48 SD rats were divided randomly into sham-operated group,model group,ginsenoside Rb3(20,40 and 80 mg/kg) group and positive control drug(XST) group.The model of focal cerebral ischemia was made by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) with nylon suture;neuroethological scores were gotten 24 h after the development of the model.The water content of brain tissue,the activities of SOD and MDA in brain tissue and were measured,the percentage of cerebral infarction area to total brain area was calculated,and histopathological examination was conducted.Results Ginsenoside Rb3(at 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg) could significantly reduce the scores for neurological deficits and brain edema,improve the activities of SOD,lower the content of MDA,reduce the cerebral infraction area,and alleviate the cerebral ischemia injury.Conclusion Ginsenoside Rb3 had obvious protective effects on the focal cerebral ischemia in rats.