Inhibitory Effects of Total Saponin Korean Red Ginseng on Thromboxane A₂Production and P-Selectin ExpressionviaSuppressing Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Abstract

Ginseng has been widely used for traditional medicine in eastern Asia and is known to have inhibitory effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction. Because, platelet is a crucial mediator of CVD, many studies are focusing on inhibitory mechanism of platelet functions. Among platelet activating molecules, thromboxane A 2 (TXA 2 ) and P-selectin play a central role in CVD. TXA 2 leads to intracellular signaling cascades and P-selectin plays an important role in platelet-neutrophil and platelet-monocyte interactions leading to the inflammatory response. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory mechanisms of total saponin fraction from Korean red ginseng (KRG-TS) on TXA 2 production and P-selectin expression. Thrombin-elevated TXA 2 production and arachidonic acid release were decreased by KRG-TS dose (25 to 150 μg/mL)-dependently via down regulation of microsomal cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), TXA 2 synthase (TXAS) activity and dephosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A 2 (cPLA 2 ). In addition, KRG-TS suppressed thrombin-activated P-selectin expression, an indicator of granule release via dephosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Taken together, we revealed that KRG-TS is a beneficial novel compound inhibiting TXA 2 production and P-selectin expression, which may prevent platelet aggregation-mediated thrombotic disease.

Safety and Efficacy Assessment of Red Ginseng Oil (RXGIN) in Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

“…Over the past decades, many efficacy studies have been conducted and published on red ginseng in Korea and Japan. Recently, it has been found to be effective in maintaining the balance of PGI2 and TXA2, physiologically active substances that play a major role in thrombosis and arteriosclerosis [ 14 ]. RXGIN, which is extracted from red ginseng, contains a very high content of β-sitosterol among phytosterols.…”

COVID-19 and Panax ginseng: Targeting platelet aggregation, thrombosis and the coagulation pathway

“…Panax ginseng has been widely studied for its antiplatelet activity [ [54] , [55] , [56] ]. P-selectin was also shown to be inhibited by the total saponin, ginsenoside Ro and Rg3, and the ginseng berry of P. ginseng [ 49 , [57] , [58] , [59] ]. P-selectin also allows the binding of platelets to PSGL-1 on various immune cells.…”