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

Jong-Hoon Kim; Soo Yeun Cho; Chang-Won Kang; In-Soo Yoon; Jun-Ho Lee; Sang Min Jeong; Byung-Hwan Lee; Joon-Hee Lee; Mi-Kyung Pyo; Sun-Hye Choi; Shi Fu Quan; Jong-Hwan Lee; Chi-Bong Choi; Hyewhon Rhim; Seung-Yeol Nah

doi:10.1248/bpb.29.2425

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

Jong-Hoon Kim, Soo Yeun Cho, Chang-Won Kang, In-Soo Yoon, Jun-Ho Lee, Sang Min Jeong, Byung-Hwan Lee, Joon-Hee Lee, Mi-Kyung Pyo, Sun-Hye Choi, Shi Fu Quan, Jong-Hwan Lee, Chi-Bong Choi, Hyewhon Rhim, Seung-Yeol Nah

Author information

Jong-Hoon Kim
Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University
Soo Yeun Cho
Ginsentology Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Bio/Molecular Informatics Center and Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University
Chang-Won Kang
Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University
In-Soo Yoon
Ginsentology Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Bio/Molecular Informatics Center and Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University
Jun-Ho Lee
Ginsentology Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Bio/Molecular Informatics Center and Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University
Sang Min Jeong
Ginsentology Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Bio/Molecular Informatics Center and Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University
Byung-Hwan Lee
Ginsentology Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Bio/Molecular Informatics Center and Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University
Joon-Hee Lee
Ginsentology Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Bio/Molecular Informatics Center and Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University
Mi-Kyung Pyo
Ginsentology Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Bio/Molecular Informatics Center and Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University
Sun-Hye Choi
Ginsentology Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Bio/Molecular Informatics Center and Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University
Shi Fu Quan
Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University
Jong-Hwan Lee
Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University
Chi-Bong Choi
Department of Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University
Hyewhon Rhim
Biomedical Research Center, KIST
Seung-Yeol Nah
Ginsentology Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Bio/Molecular Informatics Center and Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University

Keywords: Panax ginseng, Ginseng saponin, methionine, hyperhomocysteinemia, vascular dysfunction

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2006 Volume 29 Issue 12 Pages 2425-2431

DOI https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.29.2425

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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.

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