Modulation of Endothelial Function by Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and its Components in Healthy Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

SUMMARYAims: Ginseng root and its derivatives remain atop the most widely used medicinal herbs in cardiovascular disease, despite inadequate substantiation of efficacy. We previously reported the potential of Korean red ginseng (KRG) to affect vascular tone by decreasing arterial wave reflection via an unknown mechanism. Given the preclinical link between ginseng intake and vasoactivity related to nitric oxide (NO) production, we sought to directly evaluate the effects of KRG root and its major root components, on an established noninvasive measure of endothelial function. Methods: In an acute, randomized, placebocontrolled, double-blind, crossover design, 16 healthy participants (9M:7F, age:30 AE 9y, BMI: 24 kg AE3 kg/m 2 , systolicBP/diastolicBP: 109 AE 11/66 AE 8 mmHg) on four occasions were administered: KRG root (3 g), KRG ginsenosides extract, KRG polysaccharides extract, and cornstarch control. Extracted fractions were delivered at doses bioequivalent to those found in 3 g of KRG. Flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) assessment, preceding a brachial blood pressure measurement, was performed at baseline and at 90 and 180 min posttreatment to assess endothelial function. Results: KRG significantly improved FMD posttreatment. Maximal vasodilatation of D2.57 AE 2.8% occurred at 180 min compared with control (DÀ0.83 AE 2.7%, P = 0.003 for all comparisons). The ginsenoside extract produced a comparable response (D1.75 AE 2.6%), but not the polysaccharide fraction (D0.10 AE 2.7%). Brachial blood pressure remained unchanged for all treatments (P = 0.45). Conclusions: KRG acutely improved endothelial function in healthy individuals, which appears to be attributable to its ginsenoside containing fraction. Our data confirm preclinical data and support the potential for these compounds as targets for therapeutic strategies in disorders involving endothelial dysfunction.

Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng enhances blood pressure stability in spontaneously hypertensive rats

“…Our results were consistent with this observation and showed that the level of NO production under basal conditions in WKYs was higher than that in SHRs because increased ROS in SHRs immediately destroyed endothelium-derived NO. Some previous reports have demonstrated the antihypertensive effect of REKRG in human randomized control trials 32, 33. Our results demonstrate the antihypertensive effect of REKRG in comparison to KRG in a rat model and we provide the mechanistic pathway for its antihypertensive effect.…”

Protective effects of phenolic acid extract from ginseng on vascular endothelial cell injury induced by palmitate via activation of PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway

“…This disruption mainly manifests as the excessive accumulation of lipids, downexpression of NO, and enhanced expression of ET‐1 (King et al., 2016). Several studies have indicated the protective effect of ginseng on the endothelial function (In‐Ho et al., 2018; Jovanovski et al., 2014; Park et al., 2018). In addition, the phenolic acid components from other plants have demonstrated regulatory potential for endothelial function (Del Bo et al., 2016; Tang et al., 2018; Toma et al., 2017).…”

Ginseng: An Nonnegligible Natural Remedy for Healthy Aging

“…This thickening not only contributes to a reduction in arterial elasticity and compliance, but also the lumen size, further increasing resistance to blood flow [ 65 ]. A clinical trial demonstrates that Korean red ginseng (KRG) and its ginsenosides significantly improved flow mediated vasodilatation post treatment [ 66 ]. A recent study showed that KRG inhibited arginase activity, maintained nitric oxide (NO) generation, reduced ROS production, and increased eNOS coupling in aged mice.…”