Brain cell- or nerve cell-protecting agents comprising medicinal ginseng

Abstract

The present invention provides medicinal or pharmaceutical compositions and preparations for administration, which are useful as cytoprotective agents and a remedy for neurotrauma, comprising ginseng, its extract, ginseng components, metabolites thereof or salts thereof (for example, red ginseng powder or components thereof). More particularly, the present invention provides medicinal or pharmaceutical compositions for inhibiting apoptosis or apoptosis-like cell death, medicinal or pharmaceutical compositions for promoting the expression of a cell death-suppressing gene product BCl-x L , or preparations for oral or intravenous administration, comprising ginseng, its extracts, ginseng components, metabolites thereof or salts thereof preferably at low concentrations. These medicinal or pharmaceutical compositions and/or preparations for administration are characterized by containing, as the active ingredient(s), ginseng, its extracts, ginseng components, metabolites thereof or salts thereof at low concentrations. These drugs are useful for therapy, prevention or treatment of brain and nervous diseases, heart diseases, etc.

1 - 73 . (canceled)  
   
   
       74 . Dihydroginsenoside Rb 1  represented by the following formula (II):  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     or metabolites thereof or salts thereof.  
   
   
       75 - 90 . (canceled)  
   
   
       91 . A medicinal or pharmaceutical comprising dihydroginsenoside Rb 1 , metabolites thereof of salts thereof.  
   
   
       92 . The composition of  claim 91  further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
   
   
       93 . A method for treating a mammal suffering from or susceptible to a disease. causing apoptosis of cells or apoptosis-like cell death, comprising administering to the mammal a composition of  claim 91 .  
   
   
       94 - 120 . (canceled)