Longevity & AgingGinseng Compound Targets Mitochondrial Protein to Slow Brain Aging
Researchers identified ginsenoside Re (Re), a compound from ginseng, as a potent neuroprotective agent that crosses the blood-brain barrier and targets mitochondria. Re binds directly to the Leu94 residue of Drp1, a protein controlling mitochondrial fission, triggering a signaling cascade that restores the balance between mitochondrial splitting and fusion. This also activates mitophagy — the cellular cleanup of damaged mitochondria — via the Drp1-Atg1/ULK1 pathway. Tested in Drosophila, mice, and human iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons, Re reduced neuronal loss, improved motor and cognitive function, and extended healthspan. Critically, these benefits were abolished when the Drp1 L94 site was genetically removed, confirming the mechanism's specificity.
