Merit of Ginseng in the Treatment of Heart Failure in Type 1-Like Diabetic Rats

Abstract

The present study investigated the merit of ginseng in the improvement of heart failure in diabetic rats and the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors δ (PPARδ). We used streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat (STZ-rat) to screen the effects of ginseng on cardiac performance and PPARδ expression. Changes of body weight, water intake, and food intake were compared in three groups of age-matched rats; the normal control (Wistar rats) received vehicle, STZ-rats received vehicle and ginseng-treated STZ-rats. We also determined cardiac performances in addition to blood glucose level in these animals. The protein levels of PPARδ in hearts were identified using Western blotting analysis. In STZ-rats, cardiac performances were decreased but the food intake, water intake, and blood glucose were higher than the vehicle-treated control. After a 7-day treatment of ginseng in STZ-rats, cardiac output was markedly enhanced without changes in diabetic parameters. This treatment with ginseng also increased the PPARδ expression in hearts of STZ-rats. The related signal of cardiac contractility, troponin I phosphorylation, was also raised. Ginseng-induced increasing of cardiac output was reversed by the cotreatment with PPARδ antagonist GSK0660. Thus, we suggest that ginseng could improve heart failure through the increased PPARδ expression in STZ-rats.

Ginsenoside Rh2 Improves Cardiac Fibrosis via PPARδ–STAT3 Signaling in Type 1-Like Diabetic Rats

“…Activation of PPARδ by an agonist may improve phenylephrine-induced hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes [ 39 ]. Furthermore, ginseng has been demonstrated to improve heart function via PPARδ in diabetic rats [ 21 ]. In the present study, PPARδ is substantially reduced in the hearts of diabetic rats.…”

“…Rh2 may also attenuate hyperglycemia in diabetic rats [ 20 ]. Moreover, ginseng has been documented to improve heart function via PPARδ in diabetic rats [ 21 ]. Recently, the activation of PPARδ has been demonstrated to attenuate STAT3 expression [ 22 ].…”

Ginsenoside Re Improves Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Fibrosis and Heart Failure in Rats

“…P. ginseng also increased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) δ in the hearts of DM rats. Therefore, Tsai and colleagues suggested that P. ginseng could improve heart failure by increasing PPAR δ activity in DM rats [6]. In a rat model with ligation of coronary arteries, P. ginseng reversed cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial remodeling, and heart failure by inhibition of calcineurin activation [7].…”

Chinese Veterinary Medicine B307 Promotes Cardiac Performance and Skeletal Muscle Contraction via Enhancing Intracellular Calcium Levels and Neural Electrical Activity in Animal and Cell Models

“…Ginseng is useful to enhance cardiac contractility in animals [ 27 ]. Recently, ginseng has been garnering increasing interest in its effects on the cardiovascular system and in the treatment of heart failure [ 28 ]. Ginsenosides, the effective component of ginseng, regulates cardiovascular function on cardiomyocyte contraction, which may be mediated in part through increased NO production [ 29 ].…”