Improvement of ginsenoside Rg1 on hematopoietic function in cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression mice

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) on hematopoietic function of bone marrow in cyclophosphamide-induced bone marrow depression mice. Mice were given cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg, i.p. for three days) to produce bone marrow depression. Rg1 was then administrated at 7.5 and 15 mg/kg by i.p. for seven days. Bone marrow cells number was counted, and the percentage of hematopoietic stem cells (Lin−Sca-1+c-kit+) was quantified by flow cytometry. The histology of femoral bone was examined by H&E staining. The expression of calcium-sensing receptor mRNA was determined by the real time RT-PCR. Rg1 (7.5 and 15 mg/kg) protected against cyclophosphamide-induced bone marrow depression, as evidenced by increased bone marrow cell numbers and improved femoral bone morphology. The percentage of Lin−Sca-1+c-kit+ cells and lymphoid lineage CD3+ cells were lower in cyclophosphamide group, but returned towards normal after Rg1 treatment in both bone marrow and peripheral blood cells. Expression of calcium-sensing receptor mRNA was increased in bone marrow cells on the 10th day after cyclophosphamide, but it was returned to normal level after Rg1 treatment. Rg1 alone did not produce these changes in normal mice. These results demonstrated that Rg1 improved hematopoietic function of bone marrow in cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression.