Effect of Ginseng Saponins on Cold Tolerance in Young and Elderly Rats

Abstract

Acute systemic injection of ginseng saponin (GS) significantly elevated both the total and maximum heat production in young rats (3 - 6 months) and improved their cold tolerance under severe cold (− 10 °C under helium-oxygen). However, pretreating the animal with the optimal dose (10 mg/kg) of GS devoid of Rg₁ and Rb₁ failed to elicit any beneficial effect in improving the cold tolerance. Pretreating the animal with Rb₁, but not Rg₁, increased thermogenesis as well as cold tolerance in young rats. A similar beneficial effect in improving cold tolerance was also observed when old rats (26 - 28 months) were pretreated with the same doses of Rb₁ (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg). Our results indicate that Rb₁ is the key ingredient in GS-mediated enhancement in thermogenic capacity and that both young and old rats can benefit from this treatment for enhanced cold tolerance.

Key words

Panax quinquefolius L., Araliaceae, ginsenosides, cold tolerance, heat production, thermogenesis.

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