Neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in both in vivo and in vitro models of Parkinson's disease

•Ginsenoside Rg1 ameliorated the behavioral deficits of PD mice model.•Dopaminergic cell loss reduced with ginsenoside Rg1 treatment in vivo.•Cell viability was increased by ginsenoside Rg1 pretreatment.•Ginsenoside Rg1 pretreatment decreased cell apoptosis.•The neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 are exerted through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) is a major bioactive ingredient in Panax ginseng that has low toxicity and has been shown to have neuroprotective effects. The objectives of the present study were to explore the potential of the application of Rg1 for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) and to determine whether its neuroprotective effects are exerted through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by using in vivo and in vitro models of PD. In the in vivo study, Rg1 treatment ameliorated the behavioral deficits of “Pole test”, and reduced dopaminergic cell loss that were induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP) in a dose-dependent manner in an in vivo model of PD. In the in vitro study, cell viability was increased and cell apoptosis induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium(MPP+) was decreased by Rg1 pretreatment. Rg1 induced protective effects on the protein and mRNA expression levels of markers of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in both the in vivo and the in vitro studies, and these neuroprotective effects were blocked by DKK1 in the in vitro study. Our results provide evidence that Rg1 has neuroprotective effects in both in vivo and in vitro PD models, and these effects act through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Taken together, these results indicate that Rg1 may exert therapeutic effects on PD via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and may therefore provide a novel approach for the treatment of PD.