Ginsenoside Rb1 inhibits oxidative stress-induced ovarian granulosa cell injury through Akt-FoxO1 interaction

Ginsenoside Rb1 shows a strong antioxidant effect and has potential activation effects on Akt.The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of Rb1 on age-related ovarian granulosa cell injury.Ovarian granulosa cells(GCs)were obtained from 50 young women(≤30 years)and 50 aged women(≥38 years)at an IVF center.Young and aged ICR mice were administered with or without Rb1(10 mg kg^(-1),i.p.)for 2 weeks.The protective effects of Rb1 were investigated and the role of Rb1 on the modulation of Akt-FoxO1 interaction was determined with immunofluorescence,Western blotting,immunoprecipitation,si RNA silencing and pharmacological inhibitor.Rb1 effectively decreased LDH and MDA,and reversed the apoptotic-related protein levels in h GL cells from old patients.Similar results were found in mice.In addition,the mitochondrial membrane potential was restored and the overaccumulation of ROS was reversed by Rb1.Rb1 preserved peroxide-impaired Akt activation,to some extent,by increasing phosphorylation at Ser473.Rb1 also facilitated p-Akt binding to FoxO1 and promoted the phosphorylation of FoxO1.Si RNA silencing of Akt,Akt inhibitor LY294002,and FoxO1 inhibitor AS1842856 attenuated the effects of Rb1.Ginsenoside Rb1 inhibits age-related GCs oxidative damage by activating Akt phosphorylation at Ser473 and by further interaction with FoxO1.