Korean Red Ginseng extract attenuates alcohol-induced addictive responses and cognitive impairments by alleviating neuroinflammation

Due to its addictive characteristics, many people struggle with the side effects of alcohol. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a traditional herbal medicine that is widely used to treat various health problems. However, the effects and mechanisms of Korean Red Ginseng in alcohol-induced responses remain unclear. A study investigated the effects of Korean Red Ginseng in alcohol-induced responses.The researchers investigated two aspects: alcohol-induced addictive responses and spatial working memory impairments. To determine the effects of Korean Red Ginseng in alcohol-induced addictive responses, conditioned place preference tests were performed and withdrawal symptoms were observed. To assess the effects of Korean Red Ginseng in alcohol-induced spatial working memory impairment, Y-maze, Barnes maze, and novel object recognition tests were performed using mice after repeated alcohol and Korean Red Ginseng exposure. To investigate the potential mechanism of Korean Red Ginseng activity, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and western blot analysis were performed.
Korean Red Ginseng -treated mice showed dose-dependent restoration of impaired spatial working memory following repeated alcohol exposure. Furthermore, withdrawal symptoms to alcohol were reduced in mice treated with Korean Red Ginseng and alcohol. The PKA-CREB signaling pathway was activated after alcohol administration, which was reduced by Korean Red Ginseng. However, the levels of inflammatory cytokines were increased by alcohol and decreased by Korean Red Ginseng.
Taken together, Korean Red Ginseng may alleviate alcohol-induced spatial working memory impairments and addictive responses through anti-neuroinflammatory activity rather than through the PKA-CREB signaling pathway, the researchers conclude.
Source: Kim HJ, Lee MY, Kim GR, Lee HJ, Sayson LV, Ortiz DMD, Cheong JH, Kim M. Korean Red Ginseng extract attenuates alcohol-induced addictive responses and cognitive impairments by alleviating neuroinflammation. J Ginseng Res. 2023 Jul;47(4):583-592.