Role of Panax Ginseng extract in ameliorating the effects of intermittent restraint stress on the hippocampus of adult male albino rats: Histological and Immunohistochemical study

Introduction: Stress is a state of disrupted homeostasis and it is classified into physical and psychosocial. Hippocampus is a sensitive part of the brain to stress-induced damage. Panax ginseng neuroprotective effects on some neurodegenerative diseases have been proved. Aim: This work aimed to study the role of Panax ginseng in ameliorating the effects of intermittent restraint stress on adult male rat hippocampus (Cornu Ammonis and Dentate). Material and Methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were used in this study, five to seven months, 180-200 gm. Rats were divided into three groups: group I: rats were further subdivided into: subgroup IA: rats were kept as a negative control; subgroup IB: rats received single dose of Panax ginseng daily for three weeks. Group II: rats were housed as in group I except for the stress period, where each rat was kept in a reduced volume cage for 2 hrs daily for three weeks. Group III: rats were housed and exposed to stress as in group II and received a single dose of Panax ginseng daily for three weeks. Results: The present work revealed that intermittent restraint stress induced marked histological changes in rat hippocampus of group II in the form of disorganized Cornu Ammonis and apparent decreased thickness of the granular layer of the Dentate gyrus. Group III showed nearly preserved histological structure. Conclusion: Results obtained in this study suggested that Panax ginseng could provide an ameliorating effect on stress induced hippocampal histological changes.