Abstract WP86: Korean Red Ginseng Protects Against Long-term Sensorimotor Deficits After Ischemic Stroke Through The Nrf2 Pathway

Introduction: Nrf2 is an astrocyte-enriched transcriptional factor that serves as a key regulator of endogenous cellular defense systems against oxidative stress and inflammation. Korean Red Ginseng (Ginseng), one of the most widely used herbal medicines, has exhibited an encouraging protective efficacy against various neurological disorders in preclinical and clinical studies. Hypothesis: Our study aimed to determine whether Ginseng-pretreatment attenuates sensorimotor deficits and improves long-term recovery after ischemic stroke though the Nrf2 pathway activation by preferentially altering reactive astrogliosis. Methods: WT and Nrf2-/- mice were pretreated with Ginseng via gavage once daily for 7 days prior to permanent distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (pdMCAO). Neurobehavioral tests were performed to assess sensorimotor deficits and long-term recovery over 28 days, lesion volumes were determined, and immunohistochemical analysis was used to characterize the astrocytic and microglial activation ...