Study of the neuroprotective effect of ginseng on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels in experimental diffuse head trauma

Background The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of ginseng on antioxidant enzyme levels in brain damage following experimental diffuse head trauma in rats. The neuroprotective effect of ginseng was also studied. Methods In this study, rats were divided into four groups, and the rats in group 1 received no intervention. In group 2, the rats were administered 50 mg/kg ginseng, injected intraperitoneally at 1, 24 and 48 h, and the effect of ginseng on normal tissues was studied. No drugs were administered to the rats in group 3 who had previously experienced diffuse head trauma using Feeney’s falling weight method. In group 4, rats underwent Feeney’s falling weight method, leading to diffuse head trauma, and they were given 50 mg/kg ginseng intraperitoneally 1, 24 and 48 h after head trauma. Rats were killed 72 h after head trauma and their brain tissues extracted for histopathological and biochemical studies. Results Histopathological study of brain cross sections in the trauma group demonstrated neurons in the trauma region and surrounding area, which generally had a dark-colored eosinophilic cytoplasm and a pyknotic nucleus, while the nuclei of neurons were located peripherally. However, brain cross sections in group 4 from rats given ginseng after head trauma showed fewer neurons with eosinophilic cytoplasm, pyknotic and peripheral nuclei in the trauma region and surrounding area. No statistically significant difference in the tissue SOD level was observed; however, the GSH Px level in group 4 was significantly reduced compared to that in group 3. Conclusions After affecting the GSH Px level and reducing histopathological scores, ginseng was found to display antioxidant and neuroprotective activity.