Effects of Red Ginseng Extract on Visual Sensitivity and ERG b-wave of Bullfrog's Eye

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of red ginseng (Panax ginseng) extracts on the visual process in bullfrog's eye. The results obtained indicated that both dark-adapted and light-adapted ERG b-wave peak amplitude was increased with red ginseng treatment. Furthermore, the ERG sensitivity was elevated by 1.4 log units of light intensity. It was found that red ginseng acts as a retinal neural antagonist but not as a GABA receptor antagonist. Red ginseng improved the alcohol dehydrogenase activity and speeded up the delivery of 11 cis-retinal from retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to the outer disc of the photoreceptors which resulted in decreased regeneration time of rhodopsin. In the spectral scan, red ginseng treatment brings an increment in absorbance over the whole spectral range (300–800 nm) with maximum difference at around 500 nm. It is concluded that red ginseng may be used to improve visual process, and can potentially be used to treat certain ophthalmic diseases.

red ginseng - Panax ginseng (Araliaceae) - electroretinogram (ERG) - bullfrog - retina - rhodopsin

References

• 1 Ritch R. Natural compounds: evidence for a protective role in eye disease.  Can J Opthalmol. 2007;  42 425-438
• 2 Lee F C. Facts about Ginseng, the elixir of life. Elizabeth, New Jersey; Hollyn International Corporation 1992
• 3 Huang K C. The pharmacology of Chinese herbs, 2nd edition. Boca Raton, Florida; CRC Press 1999
• 4 Kim S, Ahn K, Oh T H, Nah S Y, Rhim H. Inhibitory effect of ginsenosides on NMDA receptor-mediated signals in rat hippocampal neurons.  Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2002;  296 247-254
• 5 Shin H Y, Jeong H J, An H J, Hong S H, Um J Y, Shin T Y, Kwon S J, Jee S Y, Seo B I, Shin S S, Yang D C, Kim H M. The effect of Panax ginseng on forced immobility time and immune function in mice.  Indian J Med Res. 2006;  124 199-206
• 6 Yuan C S, Attele A S, Wu J A, Liu D. Modulation of American ginseng on brainstem GABAergic effects in rats.  J Ethnopharmacol. 1998;  296 247-254
• 7 Carr R E, Siegel I M. Analysis of the ERG components. Schachat WS Visual electrodiagnostic testing: a practical guide for the clinician. Baltimore, Maryland; Williams and Wilkins 1982: 9-11
• 8 Brown K T. The electroretinogram: its components and their origin.  Vision Res. 1968;  8 633-677
• 9 Conn P M. Neuroscience in medicine: vision. Totowa, New Jersey; Humana Press 2008: 537
• 10 Wen R, Oakley B. K⁺-evoked Muller cell depolarization generates b-wave of electroretinogram in toad retina.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1990;  87 2117-2121
• 11 Stockton R A, Slaughter M M. B-wave of the electroretinogram. A reflection of ON bipolar cell activity.  J Gen Physiol. 1989;  93 101-122
• 12 Steinberg R H, Schmidt R A, Brown K T. Intracellular responses to light from cat pigment epithelium: origin of the electroretinogram c-wave.  Nature. 1970;  227 728-730
• 13 Dong C J, Hare W A. Contribution to the kinetics and amplitude of the electroretinogram b-wave by third-order retinal neurons in the rabbit retina.  Vision Res. 2000;  40 579-590
• 14 Linsenmeier R A, Mines A H, Steinberg R H. Effects of hypoxia and hypercapnia on the light peak and electroretinogram of the cat.  Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1983;  24 37-46
• 15 Horace G C. Panax ginseng: standardization and biological activity. Biologically active natural products: pharmaceuticals. Boca Raton, Florida; CRC Press 1999: 213-214
• 16 Chong-Zhi W, Ming N, Shi S, Xiao L L, Hui H, Sangeeta R M, Chun S Y. Detection of adulteration of notoginseng root extract with other Panax species by quantitative HPLC coupled with PCA.  J Agric Food Chem. 2009;  57 2363-2367
• 17 Wassle H, Koulen P, Brandstatter J H, Fletcher E L, Becker C M. Glycine and GABA receptors in the mammalian retina.  Vision Res. 1998;  38 1411-1430
• 18 Kupenova P, Popova E, Vitanova L. GABAa and GABAc receptor mediated influences on the intensity-response functions of the b- and d-wave in the frog ERG.  Vision Res. 2008;  48 882-892
• 19 Arnarsson A, Eysteinsson T. The role of GABA in modulating the Xenopus electroretinogram.  Visual Neurosci. 1997;  14 1143-1152
• 20 Biel M, Seeliger M, Pfeifer A, Kohler K, Gerstner A, Ludwig A, Jaissle G, Fauser S, Zrenner E, Hofmann F. Selective loss of cone function in mice lacking the cyclic nucleotide-gated channel CNG3.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1999;  96 7553-7557
• 21 Li L, Dowling J E. Effects of dopamine depletion on visual sensitivity of zebra fish.  J Neurosci. 2000;  20 1893-1903
• 22 Popova E, Mitova L, Vitanova L, Kupenova P. Participation of the GABAergic system in the action of 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate on the OFF responses of frog retinal ganglion cells.  Vision Res. 2003;  43 607-616
• 23 Dorea J G, Olson J A. The rate of rhodopsin regeneration in the bleached eyes of zinc-deficient rats in the dark.  J Nutr. 1986;  116 121-127
• 24 Lamb T D, Pugh Jr E N. Phototransduction, dark adaptation, and rhodopsin regeneration: the proctor lecture.  Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006;  47 1538-1552
• 25 Fein A, Szuts E Z. Photoreceptors: their role in vision. General structure and spectral property of rhodopsin. Cambridge; Cambridge University Press 1982: 49-71
• 26 Pak W L. Relation of bleaching to sensitivity of vertebrate photoreceptors. Lester P Methods in enzymology. New York; Academic Press 1982: 423-431