PANAX NOTOGINSENG SAPONINS ATTENUATE ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN RATS BY REGULATING THE BLOOD LIPID PROFILE AND AN ANTI‐INFLAMMATORY ACTION

Abstract

Previous studies have reported on the anti-atherosclerotic effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS). The aim of the present study was to explore the molecular mechanisms responsible for the anti-atherosclerotic effects of PNS and the inflammatory response. Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups, namely a control group, a group, in which zymosan A was used to induce inflammation (Zym group) and a PNS-treated group. Rats in the three groups were administered liquid paraffin (i.p.), zymosan A (20 mg/kg, i.p., once every 3 days) or zymosan A and PNS (100 mg/kg, i.p., once daily), respectively. All animals were fed a high-fat diet for 9 weeks. At scheduled times, rats were killed, blood was collected and the aorta was removed. Pathological changes in aortas were observed using Sudan IV staining and transmission electron microscopy. Serum lipids were measured enzymatically. Whole-blood viscosity was observed at different shear rates. The expression of cardiovascular disease-specific genes was determined using GEArray (SuperArray, Frederick, MA, USA). Western blotting was used to evaluate the expression levels of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB/p65 and its inhibitor IkappaBalpha in the aortic wall. In the present study, typical pathological changes associated with atherosclerosis in rats following induction by zymosan A were alleviated by PNS treatment. In the PNS-treated group, there was a marked reduction in total serum cholesterol, triglycerides and blood viscosity. In addition, PNS treatment significantly decreased the gene expression of some inflammatory factors, such as integrins, interleukin (IL)-18, IL-1beta and matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9. The expression of NF-kappaB/p65 was attenuated, whereas the expression of IkappaBalpha was significantly increased, after treatment with PNS. In conclusion, it appears that PNS exerts its therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis through an anti-inflammatory action and regulation of the blood lipid profile and that an NF-kappaB signalling pathway is involved.

Panax NotoginsengSaponins Promote Endothelial Progenitor Cell Mobilization and Attenuate Atherosclerotic Lesions in Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice

“…In accordance with our previous findings in rabbit and rat experiments [9,18], satisfactory anti-atherogenic effect of PNS on apoE -/- mice was observed, displaying decreased size of aortic plaques, reduced ratio of intima-to-media, and alleviation of atherosclerotic pathological changes in arteries. Moreover, the quantitative analysis revealed that PNS treatment was associated with a reduction in intralesional SMCs, particularly in the high-dose PNS-treated mice.…”

Hypocholesterolemic Response to Karaya Saponin and Rhodobacter capsulatus in Broiler Chickens

“…A number of studies have shown that different kinds of saponins lower serum cholesterol levels in a variety of animals and human subjects (Southon et al, 1988;Potter et al, 1993;Matsuura, 2001). However, there is no agreement on the specific hypocholesterolemic activity of all saponins and the search for new saponin sources continues (Li et al, 2007;Son et al, 2007;Zhang et al, 2008;Zhao et al, 2008). Recently, we conducted a study to compare different kinds of saponins as a hypocholesterolemic agent in rats.…”

Effects of Emulsified Sausage Supplemented with Ginseng Saponin on Lipid Metabolism in Rat

“…It has also been fairly well established that ginseng saponin is involved in lipid metabolism in vivo, and it appears to exert some powerful lipid-reduction effects. For example, several reports have asserted that saponin is tightly associated with disease conditions originating in lipid or cholesterol metabolism disorders, including hypertension (Stavro et al, 2005), hyperlipidemia (Wen et al, 1996;Yang et al, 1999), hypercholesterolemia (Lin et al, 1993), and arteriosclerosis (Zhang et al, 2008). Many of the effects of ginseng saponin, such as the suppression of increases in blood cholesterol contents, promotion of cholesterol excretion, prevention of blood vessel lesions caused by hypercholesterolemia, and the amelioration of arteriosclerosis via induced reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels have been continuously elucidated in animal experiments (Yamamoto et al, 1983).…”