Description
Ginsenoside Rh2 is a triterpene saponin found in Panax (ginseng) that exhibits immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, cognition enhancing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anticancer activities. In CD8+ T cells, ginsenoside Rh2 increases production of IFN-γ and activation of p38 MAPK and ERK, resulting in an increase in cell proliferation. In animals undergoing the Morris water maze test, ginsenoside Rh2 improves spatial learning and memory. This compound also modulates expression of inflammatory markers, decreasing expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), CD14, TNF-α, IL-1α and HIF-1α, and inhibiting degradation of IκB kinase and translocation of NF-κB across various cellular models.