Brain cell or nerve cell-protective agents comprising ginsenoside Rb1

摘要

Preparations for efficaciously administering ginsenoside Rb1 or its salt useful as cell-protective agents. More particularly, medicinal compositions for inhibiting apoptosis or apoptosis-like cell death or medicinal compositions for promoting the expression of a cell death inhibitory gene product Bcl-xL which contain ginsenoside Rb1 or its sa and preparations for intravenous administration which contain ginsenoside Rb1 or its salt. The above medicinal compositions contain ginsenoside Rb1 or its salt at a low concentration, preferably 1 ng/ml or less and still preferably 1 to 100 fg/ml. These compositions have effects of promoting the expression of the cell death inhibitory gene product Bcl-xL and inhibiting apoptosis or apoptosis-like cell death. The above preparations for intravenous administration are useful in treating or preventing, in particular, brain and nervous diseases.