Effect of Korea red ginseng on cerebral blood flow and superoxide production.
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effects of Korea red ginseng (KRG) on the cerebral
perfusion rate in the rats and the generation of superoxide anion in the
endothelial cells.
METHODS: The cerebral perfusion rate was measured using laser-doppler flowmetry
before and after the administration of crude saponin (CS) and saponin-free
fraction (SFF) of KRG in the anesthetized rats. The superoxide generation was
measured by the method based on lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence in the
cultured endothelial cells.
RESULTS: The relative cerebral perfusion rate (rCBF) was significantly increased
by the intraperitoneal injection of CS (100 mg/kg) in the rats, but SFF had no
effect on the rCBF. Chronic treatment with CS for 7 d significantly inhibited the
decrease of forebrain cerebral blood flow induced by clamping both carotid
arteries in the rats. Furthermore, CS (0.1 g/L) significantly suppressed
NADPH-induced superoxide generation in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells
(P <0.01).
CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that crude saponin fraction of KRG
enhanced cerebral blood flow in rats. Furthermore, crude saponin fraction of KRG
abrogated the NADPH-driven superoxide generation in endothelial cells.
Keywords:
perfusion rate in the rats and the generation of superoxide anion in the
endothelial cells.
METHODS: The cerebral perfusion rate was measured using laser-doppler flowmetry
before and after the administration of crude saponin (CS) and saponin-free
fraction (SFF) of KRG in the anesthetized rats. The superoxide generation was
measured by the method based on lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence in the
cultured endothelial cells.
RESULTS: The relative cerebral perfusion rate (rCBF) was significantly increased
by the intraperitoneal injection of CS (100 mg/kg) in the rats, but SFF had no
effect on the rCBF. Chronic treatment with CS for 7 d significantly inhibited the
decrease of forebrain cerebral blood flow induced by clamping both carotid
arteries in the rats. Furthermore, CS (0.1 g/L) significantly suppressed
NADPH-induced superoxide generation in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells
(P <0.01).
CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that crude saponin fraction of KRG
enhanced cerebral blood flow in rats. Furthermore, crude saponin fraction of KRG
abrogated the NADPH-driven superoxide generation in endothelial cells.