protopanaxatriol and Hypertension

Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is a fundamental regulator of systemic blood pressure. Ginsenosides from Panax ginseng have been investigated in vitro for the molecular and biochemical mechanisms by which they stimulate NO release in vascular endothelial cells; however, little research has been done to confirm the physiological relevance of these in vitro studies. To address this research gap, the effects of a P. ginseng extract rich in ginsenosides from protopanaxatriol on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) was examined. Ginseng extract administration stimulated nongenomic Akt-mediated eNOS activation, enhanced NO production, improved vessel wall thickening, and alleviated hypertension in SHRs, confirming the physiological relevance of previous in vitro studies with ginsenosides.

Topics: Animals; Endothelial Cells; Gene Expression; Hypertension; Male; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Panax; Phosphorylation; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Rats; Rats, Inbred SHR; Sapogenins; Vasodilation