Ginsenoside Rb1 improves leptin sensitivity in the prefrontal cortex in obese mice

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Metabolism
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Obesity impairs leptin signaling, affecting brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and synaptogenesis.
• This impairment is linked to cognitive decline, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), from ginseng, has anti-obesity and cognitive-enhancing properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if Rb1 can restore leptin's effects on BDNF expression and synaptogenesis in the prefrontal cortex during obesity.
• To examine Rb1's efficacy in both in vivo and in vitro models of obesity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized high-fat diet-induced obese mice and cultured prefrontal cortical neurons.
• Administered chronic Rb1 treatment to obese mice.
• Exposed cultured neurons to palmitic acid and Rb1 to assess effects on leptin signaling, BDNF, and synaptic proteins.

Main Results:

• Chronic Rb1 treatment enhanced central leptin sensitivity and JAK2-STAT3 signaling in obese mice.
• Palmitic acid impaired leptin-induced BDNF expression, synaptic protein levels, and neurite outgrowth in neurons.
• Rb1 treatment significantly protected neurons against palmitic acid-induced damage.

Conclusions:

• Rb1 reverses central leptin resistance and restores leptin-BDNF-synaptogenesis pathways in the prefrontal cortex.
• Rb1 improves synaptic plasticity and neuronal function compromised by obesity.
• Rb1 supplementation shows promise for treating obesity-related neurodegenerative disorders.