[Protective effect of ginsenoside Rb₁ on doxorubicin-induced myocardial autophagy]

Ginsenoside Rb₁ (Rb₁), which is one of the main ingredients derived from Panax ginseng, has been found to have extensive pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer properties. In this study, the effect of Rb₁ on doxorubicin-induced myocardial autophagy was studied with H9c2 as the study object. CCK-8 method, transmission electron microscope observation, fluorescence staining observation and Western blot were used to detect changes in H9c2 cell proliferation and autophagy after treatment. According to the results, doxorubicin could cause cell viability decrease, significant increase in the LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-I ratio and down-regulation of the expression of p62. Pretreatment with ginsenoside Rb₁ inhibited cell viability decrease and increase in doxorubicin-induced autophagic structure and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-I ratio, and down-regulation of the expression of p62. In conclusion, doxorubicin could induce H9c2 cell death and induce autophagy, and ginsenoside Rb₁ showed a protective effect on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, which may be correlated with suppression of DOX-induced autophagy.