Ginseng Saponins Diminish Adverse Vascular Effects Associated with Chronic Methionine-Induced Hyperhomocysteinemia

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that Panax ginseng has a variety of beneficial effects on the cardiovascular systems. Homocysteine (Hcy), which is derived from L-methionine (Met), has been closely associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we examined whether in vivo long-term administration of ginseng saponins (GS), active ingredients of Panax ginseng, attenuate adverse vascular effects associated with chronic Met-induced hyperhomocysteinemia (H-Hcy). We found that plasma Hcy level, which was measured after 30 and 60 d, in GS (100 mg/kg)؉Met co-administration group was significantly reduced when it was compared with Met alone treatment group. We could also observe the alleviation of endothelial damages of aortic artery vessels in GS (100 mg/kg)؉Met co-administration group compared with Met alone treatment group. We compared aortic vasocontractile and vasodilatory responses between Met alone and GS (100 mg/ kg)؉Met co-treatment groups. We found that norepinephrine-induced vasocontractile responses were greatly decreased in GS (100 mg/kg)؉Met co-treatment group and that carbachol-induced dilatory responses were greatly enhanced in GS (100 mg/kg)؉Met co-administration groups as compared with Met alone treatment group. The present results indicate that in vivo long-term administration of GS attenuates adverse vascular effects associated with chronic Met-induced H-Hcy in rats.

The effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on endothelial damage and ghrelin expression induced by hyperhomocysteine

“…Studies show that ginsenosides may prevent vascular injury and dysfunction through inducing NO release. 21,22 Ginsenosides can enhance the activity of calcium-activated potassium ion channels in vascular smooth muscles and increase the opening rate of the Ca2 ϩ -activated K ϩ channels (KCa) on the endothelial cell membranes. 23 Our previous study also showed that the Chinese herbal medicine ginseng and its ginsenoside extracts can both prevent Hcyinduced endothelial injury.…”

Increases in Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Induced by Caffeine are Inhibited by (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate: Involvement of Catecholamines

“…The AP was continuously recorded in conscious unrestrained rats [11][12] . Briefly, the rats were anesthetised with a mixture of ketamine (100 mg/kg, i.p.)…”

Stereospecificity of Ginsenoside Rg3 in the Promotion of Cellular Immunity in Hepatoma H22‐Bearing Mice

“…Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, has been used in traditional medicine for over 3000 years (Ewa ) and has become increasingly popular for possible curative and restorative properties in oriental countries (Kim and others ). In the past several years, many studies have demonstrated that the major bioactive components in ginseng are ginsenosides (Bae and others ), which are responsible for most of the pharmacological actions of ginseng, including immunomodulation, anticancer, and anti‐oxidative activities (Christensen ).…”

“…Ginsenoside Rg3 exists as 2 epimers, 20(S)‐ginsenoside Rg3 [20(S)‐Rg3] and 20(R)‐ginsenoside Rg3 [20(R)‐Rg3] in Panax ginseng , which differ in the spatial structure of the hydroxyl group at carbon‐20 (Nah ). Investigators have compared the effects of 20(S)‐Rg3 and 20(R)‐Rg3 on ion channel currents (Jeong and others ), coronary artery contractions (Kim and others ), angiogenesis (Kwok and others ), and antioxidant effects (Wei and others ), and found that they exert these functions stereospecifically. However, it is not yet known whether the anti‐tumor effects and immunostimulatory activities of Rg3 are stereospecific.…”