Abstract: AIM: To explore the possible anti-apoptotic mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 on MPP ⁺-induced cellular apoptosis. METHODS: The apoptosis of SHSY5Y induced by MPP⁺was observed by AO-EB staining.Flow cytometry was used to quantitate mitochondrial transmembrane potential (△ψm) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).Western Blot was used to detect the expression of bcl-2 and bax proteins in SHSY5Y cells. RESULTS: MPP⁺-induced apoptosis in SHSY5Y cells was obviously inhibited by pretreatment with 10 μmol·L^-1Rg1.Although there was no difference of mitochondrial transmembrane potential between Rg1 pretreated groups and MPP⁺groups, the level of ROS in Rg1 pretreated groups decreased, the expression of bcl-2 protein increased and expression of bax protein decreased. CONCLUSION: Rg1 protects against MPP⁺-induced apoptosis in SHSY5Y cells and the effect may be attributed to its remove of ROS and its regulation of expression of bcl-2 and bax proteins.

Key words: ginsenoside, MPP⁺, SHSY5Y cells, apoptosis