Ginsenoside Rg3 inhibits phenylephrine-induced vascular contraction through induction of nitric oxide synthase.
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Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) isolated from Panax ginseng relaxes vessels and exerts a cytoprotective effect. In view of the fact that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in vascular hyporeactivity and immunostimulation, the effects of total ginsenosides (GS) and Rg3 on the vascular responses and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were investigated. Vasocontraction of endothelium-denuded aortic ring was induced by phenylephrine with or without GS or Rg3. The expression of iNOS was assessed by Western blot and RT-PCR analyses. NF-kappaB activation was monitored by gel shift, immunoblot and immunocytochemical analyses. Incubation of the endothelium-denuded aortic ring with GS or Rg3 inhibited phenylephrine-induced vasocontraction, which was abrogated by NOS inhibition. GS or Rg3 increased NO production in aortic rings, but Rb1, Rc, Re and Rg1 had no effect. Aortic rings obtained from rats treated with GS or Rg3 responded to phenylnephrine to a lesser extent, while producing NO to a larger extent, than those from control animals. GS or Rg3 induced iNOS in vascular smooth muscle. Rg3 induced iNOS with increase in NO production in Raw264.7 cells. Rg3 increased NF-kappaB DNA binding, whose band was supershifted with anti-p65 and anti-p50 antibodies, and elicited p65 nuclear translocation, which was accompanied by phosphorylation and degradation of I-kappaBalpha. PKC regulated iNOS induction by Rg3. In conclusion, Rg3 relaxes vessels as a consequence of NO production, to which iNOS induction contributes, and iNOS induction by Rg3 accompanied NF-kappaB activation, which involves phosphorylation and degradation of I-kappaBalpha and nuclear translocation of p65. (+info)
Effects of san qi on gastric secretion and protective factors of gastric mucosa in the rat with precancerous lesion of stomach.
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In the model rat with precancerous lesion of stomach induced by the combined method of insertion of a spring into the pylorus and high salt hot paste, effects of San Qi ([symbol: see text] Radix Notoginseng) on gastric secretion and protective factors of stomach were investigated. The results indicated that gastric secretion, gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) and aminohexose content lowered significantly, and malondialdehyde (MDA) increased significantly (P < 0.01) in the model group as compared with the normal group; after treatment with San Qi Powder for 12 weeks, both gastric secresion and GMBF increased, and MDA content decreased as compared with the negative control group (P < 0.01), with no significant increase of aminohexose content. It is suggested that San Qi ([symbol: see text] Radix Notoginseng) may improve gastric secretion, and that increase of GMBF and antagonism against the lesion of oxygen free radicals are possibly one of its mechanisms. (+info)
Red ginseng inhibits exercise-induced increase in 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis and tryptophan hydroxylase expression in dorsal raphe of rats.
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Red ginseng has been used as an ergogenic aid for endurance exercise. In this study, the effect of aqueous extract of Red ginseng on the endurance in treadmill exercise and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) synthesis and tryptophan hydroxylase expression in the dorsal raphe of rats were studied. Rats receiving Red ginseng showed increased time to exhaustion for treadmill running, and Red ginseng treatment inhibited exercise-induced increases in 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis and tryptophan hydroxylase expression in the dorsal raphe. These results suggest that the suppressive effect of Red ginseng on serotonin level during exercise is a possible ergogenic mechanism of Red ginseng. (+info)
Panax ginseng.
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The herbal remedies referred to as "ginseng" are derived from the roots of several plants. One of the most commonly used and researched of the ginsengs is Panax ginseng, also called Asian or Korean ginseng. The main active components of Panax ginseng are ginsenosides, which have been shown to have a variety of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. Results of clinical research studies demonstrate that Panax ginseng may improve psychologic function, immune function, and conditions associated with diabetes. Overall, Panax ginseng appears to be well tolerated, although caution is advised about concomitant use with some pharmaceuticals, such as warfarin, oral hypoglycemic agents, insulin, and phenelzine. Panax ginseng does not appear to enhance physical performance. Products with a standardized ginsenoside concentration are available. (+info)
Determination of polyacetylenes and ginsenosides in Panax species using high performance liquid chromatography.
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A new HPLC method was developed to separate and identify three polyacetylenes (panaxynol, panaxydol and 1,8-heptadecadiene-4,6-diyne-3,10-diol) found in Panax species. The mobile phase was a linear gradient of 2 : 1 : 3 to 2 : 1 : 1 (v/v/v) methanol/acetonitrile/water in 40 min. HPLC analysis was performed at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min with UV detection at 254 nm. The contents of the polyacetylenes and ginsenosides in Panax ginseng (white ginseng and red ginseng), P. quinquefolium, P. japonicus, and P. noteginseng were determined using these methods. The species containing the highest polyacetylene content (0.080%) was P. quinquefolium cultivated in Nagano, Japan. Meanwhile, the species with the highest ginsenoside content (9.176%) was P. noteginseng cultivated in Yunnan, China. (+info)
Modulating effects of Korean ginseng saponins on ovarian function in immature rats.
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The modulating effects of Korean ginseng saponins on ovarian functions were investigated in immature rats superovulated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). A single dose of 1 mg (0.1 ml/head) of Korean ginseng total saponin (GTS), Korean ginseng protopanaxatriol saponin (GPT), Korean ginseng protopanaxadiol saponin (GPD), or ginsenoside-Rb1 (Gin-Rb1) was intravenously injected via jugular vein catheter three times at 1 h (early follicular phase), 25 h (middle follicular phase), and 50 h (late follicular phase) after 30 IU PMSG administration. GPD and Gin-Rb1 significantly suppressed excessive ovulatory response caused by PMSG (p<0.05). All Korean ginseng saponins significantly improved oocyte quality by decreasing the proportion of abnormal oocytes (p<0.05). Gin-Rb1 significantly decreased preovulatory serum levels of androgens and 17beta-estradiol, while GPD increased preovulatory serum progesterone level (p<0.05). GPD significantly the increased postovulatory serum progesterone level (p<0.05). These results provide strong evidence that Korean ginseng saponins have a curative effect on ovarian dysfunction caused by excessive stimulation with PMSG. (+info)
Antiallergic activity of ginsenoside Rh2.
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The antiallergic activities of ginsenosides, which were isolated from acid-treated ginseng (Panax ginseng, Araliaceae), and their metabolites by human intestinal bacteria were measured. Ginsenoside Rh2, which is a main metabolite, had the most potent inhibitory activity on beta-hexosaminidase release from RBL-2H3 cells and in the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction. The inhibitory activity of ginsenoside Rh2 was more potent than that of disodium cromoglycate, a commercial antiallergic drug. This compound showed membrane stabilizing action upon differential scanning calorimetry and inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW cells. However, this ginsenoside Rh2 did not inhibit the activation of hyaluronidase and did not scavenge active oxygen. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rh2 can exhibit antiallergic activity originating from cell membrane-stabilizing activity and antiinflammatory activity by the inhibition of NO and PGE2 production. (+info)
Chronic ginseng consumption attenuates age-associated oxidative stress in rats.
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The antioxidant properties of North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) were investigated in young and old rats fed a ginseng-supplemented diet for 4 mo. Female Fischer 344 rats at 4 (Y, n = 38) or 22 (O, n = 25) mo of age were randomly divided into three groups and fed either a AIN-93G formula-based control diet (C) or a diet containing 0.5 g/kg (low dose, L) or 2.5 g/kg (high dose, H) dry ginseng power for 4 mo. Oxidant generation, measured with 2'7'-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH), was significantly lowered with ginseng feeding in the homogenates of heart, soleus, and the deep portion of vastus lateralis muscle (DVL) (P < 0.05) in both Y and O rats, and the effects were dose dependent. Superoxide dismutase activity was elevated in heart and DVL of H rats, and in soleus of L rats (P < 0.05). H rats showed higher glutathione peroxidase activity in DVL and soleus muscle (P < 0.05), and elevated citrate synthase activity in the heart of both age groups and DVL of Y rats (P < 0.05). Neither the H nor L diet affected age-dependent lipid peroxidation in the heart or muscle, but protein carbonyl content was attenuated with the H diet in the heart (P < 0.05) and with both the L and H diets in DVL (P < 0.01). We conclude that ginseng supplementation can prevent age-associated increase in oxidant production and oxidative protein damage in rats. These protective effects are explained in part by elevated antioxidant enzyme activities in the various tissues. (+info)