Methanolic extract of Korean Red ginseng attenuates NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced cognitive impairment: A comparative study.

Korean ginseng is classified into White or Red ginseng based on its processing methods. Traditional Korean medicine recognizes the differing effects and medicinal properties between White or Red ginseng. This study aimed to compare the effects and mechanisms of action of methanolic extracts of White ginseng and Red ginseng (WG and RG, respectively) in a vascular dementia (VaD) mouse model. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) was induced in mice by placing microcoils around the carotid arteries. RG and WG were orally administered to observe their effects on cognitive decline. Brain tissue was examined for inflammatory responses using immunofluorescence staining. RNA sequencing was performed to analyze changes in gene expression and protein interactions due to reduced blood flow. Mice with CCH showed cognitive decline involving the activation of microglia and astrocytes related to brain inflammation and increased expression of inflammation-related proteins. Administration of RG significantly reduced inflammation and cognitive decline, showing stronger anti-inflammatory activity than WG. RG was predicted to regulate a broad range of genes and proteins involved in brain inflammation. This study confirmed that RG can inhibit cognitive decline caused by ischemia, suggesting its potential effectiveness in improving VaD symptoms. Additionally, RG exhibited more diverse and potent activities than WG.