Protective effect of Korean red ginseng extract on cisplatin ototoxicity in HEI-OC1 auditory cells

Gi Jung Im1, Ji Won Chang, June Choi

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, 126-1 Anam-dong 5-Ga, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, Korea.

Phytotherapy Research : PTR
|December 19, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Korean red ginseng extract protects auditory cells from cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. It reduces reactive oxygen species and inhibits apoptosis, suggesting a therapeutic role for hearing loss prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cisplatin is a chemotherapy drug that can cause irreversible hearing loss (ototoxicity).
  • Ototoxicity is often linked to oxidative stress and apoptosis in auditory cells.
  • Ginseng extract has demonstrated various protective effects against cellular damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the protective potential of Korean red ginseng extract against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.
  • To determine if ginseng extract can mitigate the cellular damage caused by cisplatin in auditory cells.

Main Methods:

  • Auditory cells were pretreated with Korean red ginseng extract before exposure to cisplatin.
  • Cell viability was assessed after incubation.
  • Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured.
  • Apoptosis-related proteins (caspase-3, PARP) were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Ginseng extract pretreatment significantly enhanced auditory cell viability post-cisplatin exposure.
  • Ginseng extract attenuated cisplatin-induced increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS).
  • Ginseng extract inhibited the expression of caspase-3 and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase, key markers of apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Korean red ginseng extract exhibits significant anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative effects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.
  • Ginseng extract demonstrates potential as a protective agent for preventing cisplatin-induced hearing damage.

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