Ginsenoside Rd for acute ischemic stroke: translating from bench to bedside

Abstract

Numerous studies have identified pathophysiological mechanisms of acute ischemic stroke and have provided proof-of-principle evidence that strategies designed to impede the ischemic cascade, namely neuroprotection, can protect the ischemic brain. However, the translation of these therapeutic agents to the clinic has not been successful. Ginsenoside Rd, a dammarane-type steroid glycoside extracted from ginseng plants, has exhibited an encouraging neuroprotective efficacy in both laboratory and clinical studies. This article attempts to provide a synopsis of the physiochemical profile, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, safety and putative therapeutic mechanisms of Rd. Finally, the authors discuss the validity of Rd as a neuroprotective agent for acute ischemic stroke.

Keywords::

• cerebral ischemia
• ginsenoside Rd
• neuroprotection
• stroke

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 81073094, 31171016, 81220108008) and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK2011021). R Ye has received a postgraduate study abroad scholarship from the China Scholarship Council. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.