Abstract: To investigate the protective effects and the molecular signaling pathways of 6-gingerol against damage of PC12 cells induced by Amyloid β-protein (Aβ_1-42). MTT assay was also performed to determine the protective effects of 6-gingerol (40,80,120,200,and 300 μM) on PC12 cells apoptosis induced by Aβ_1-42. Western blot was performed to evaluate the expressions of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β),phosphorylated GSK-3β (Ser9),Akt and p-Akt (Ser473). Results showed that 6-gingerol significantly attenuated apoptosis induced by Aβ_1-42 in PC12 cells.In addition,6-gingerol (80 and120 μM) pretreatment obviously enhanced the expressions of p-GSK-3β and p-Akt compared with the Aβ_1-42 treatment group.6-Gingerol might protect PC12 cells against apoptosis induced by Aβ_1-42  via suppressing the activation of GSK-3β and enhancing the activation of Akt.

Key words: 6-gingerol;amyloid β-protein;PC12 cells;PI3K/Akt/GSK-3&beta, signaling pathway