Targeting mitochondrial quality control: Ginsenoside Rg1 as a therapeutic candidate for neuromuscular diseases

Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) are complex disorders caused by the dysfunction of motor neurons and skeletal muscles. They lead to progressive muscle weakness and atrophy and impose a significant economic burden on patients and society at large. The dysregulation of mitochondrial quality control (MQC), a key cellular process, contributes to the pathogenesis of several NMDs. Interestingly, accumulating evidence demonstrates that ginsenoside Rg1 can regulate MQC by modulating mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mitocytosis, thus aiding with the management of several diseases. This review comprehensively summarizes the current understanding of ginsenoside Rg1's effects on mitochondrial function. Furthermore, it proposes that Rg1 may target MQC mechanisms, emerging as an effective active agent for the treatment of NMDs. This review aims to bridge existing knowledge gaps and establish a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of ginsenoside Rg1 in the treatment of NMDs characterized by MQC dysfunction.