Red ginseng-mediated modulation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in neuroinflammatory-related cognitive impairments

The NLRP3 inflammasome is a key immune regulator involved in the pathophysiology of neuroinflammation and various neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies have shown that both activation and inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome can influence disease progression and symptoms in models of cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Red ginseng (RG), a traditional medicinal plant, possesses anti-inflammatory properties and shows potential for modulating the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. This review highlights the effects of RG on the NLRP3 inflammasome, with a particular focus on its therapeutic potential in AD and related cognitive impairments. The structure and activation mechanism of the NLRP3 inflammasome are first described, followed by a discussion of its role in neurodegenerative diseases and neuroinflammation. We then explore how RG and its major components regulate the priming and activation phase of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and discuss their therapeutic potential based on findings from the neuroinflammatory-related cognitive impairment model. Furthermore, we identify supporting evidence for the application of the RG-NLRP3 mechanism in other central nervous system disorders (CNS) disorders, such as cerebral ischemia and vascular dementia. Overall, RG emerges as a promising therapeutic candidate for mitigating neuroinflammation and enhancing cognitive function in neuroinflammatory-related cognitive disorders through NLRP3 inflammasome regulation. Future studies using various neurodegenerative disease (NDD) models and clinical trials are necessary to further validate the therapeutic potential of the RG-NLRP3 pathway.