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Gene & Protein in Disease Chinese herbs and stem cells in neurology

Table 1. Traditional Chinese medicine compounds with neurogenic effects on stem cells
Herbal compound Study focus Key findings References
Curcumin Neuroprotection and • Improves differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons 71
neurogenesis • Reduces oxidative stress
Quercetin Anti-inflammatory and • Improves survival and differentiation of neural stem cells 82
neuroprotective effects • Ameliorates neuroinflammation
Aucubin Neuroprotection • Increases proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells 83, 84
• Enhances protection against neurotoxicity
Baicalin Neurogenesis and • Increases proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells 80, 88
neuroprotection • Reduces apoptosis
Ginkgolide B Neuroprotection • Promotes survival and differentiation of neural stem cells 90, 91
• Relieves oxidative stress and inflammation
Ginsenoside Rg1 Neurogenesis and • Increases proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells 92, 94
neuroprotection • Enhances neurogenesis
Resveratrol Neuroprotection and anti-aging • Enhances survival and differentiation of neural stem cells 97
• Ameliorates oxidative stress and inflammation
Tanshinone IIa Neuroprotection and anti- • Increases proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells 100
inflammation • Reduces neuroinflammation
Astragaloside IV Neuroprotection and • Increases proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells 104
neurogenesis • Decreases oxidative stress
Astraisoflavan Neuroprotection • Enhances survival and differentiation of neural stem cells 73
• Minimizes neurotoxicity

may be beneficial for neuroregeneration. The previous 4.5. Ginkgolide B
studies approved that aucubin has osteogenic effects and Ginkgolide B, a key active compound in Ginkgo
promotes hippocampal NSCs differentiation into neurons biloba extract (GBE), has been shown to influence the
and their proliferation by increasing the expression of differentiation of various stem cell types. In NSCs,
neuronal markers such as NeuN and MAP2. The beneficial Ginkgolide B promotes cell cycle exit and differentiation
effects of aucubin have largely been linked to its ability in into neurons through the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin
reducing oxidative stress and inflammation resulting in a signaling pathway. Moreover, Ginkgolide B has been
89
conducive microenvironment for neuronal regeneration. found to support in vitro differentiation of NSCs into
Therefore, this herbal compound can attract the attention dopaminergic neurons. However, Ginkgolide B also
of scientists as a novel stem cell-based therapeutic exerts cytotoxic effects on blastocyst-stage embryos in a
strategy. 83,84 dose-dependent manner, inducing apoptosis during early
4.4. Baicalin embryonic development. Despite these findings, the precise
mechanisms and therapeutic potential of Ginkgolide B in
Baicalin is a bioactive flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria stem cell differentiation require further investigations to
baicalensis, which can significantly influence activity of better understand its benefits in stem cell biology. 90,91
stem cells. 85,86 Its effects on stem cell differentiation have
been widely studied, particularly in dental pulp stem 4.6. Ginsenoside Rg1
cells and neural stem/progenitor cells. 80,87 This inhibition Ginsenoside Rg1, a bioactive compound derived from
results in an increased expression of osteogenic markers ginseng, has been shown to promote the differentiation
and enhanced mineralization, which is vital for bone and and proliferation of stem cells from various origins. 92,93
tissue regeneration. In addition, a study has demonstrated Several studies have demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1
that baicalin promotes the neuronal differentiation of enhances the osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation
neural stem/progenitor cells, stimulating neurogenesis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by
and improving cognitive function following ischemic activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which
injury. These findings highlight the potential of baicalin involves the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta
88
in regenerative medicine, particularly for the therapeutic (GSK-3β) phosphorylation. In addition, ginsenoside Rg1
repair and regeneration of dental and neurological has protective effects against stem cell senescence. 93,94
tissues. 80,88 While ginsenoside Rg1 is known to promote osteogenic

Volume 4 Issue 2 (2025) 5 doi: 10.36922/gpd.4835