title: Effects of various ginseng saponins on 5-hydroxytryptamine release and aggregation in human platelets.
abstract: The effects of various ginseng saponins isolated from red ginseng roots, on aggregation and 5-hydroxytryptamine release (5-HT) human platelets have been investigated. Among the six saponins tested, only ginsenoside Rg1 inhibited adrenaline- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and 5-HT release dose-dependently, at concentrations of 5 to 500 micrograms ML-1. Ginsenoside Rg1 had no effect on adrenaline- and thrombin-induced arachidonic acid release and diacylglycerol production. But it did reduce the elevation of cytosolic free calcium concentration (Ca2+)i shown in the second phase induced by adrenaline and thrombin, at concentrations of 10 to 500 micrograms mL-1. Those data suggest that the inhibitory effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on 5-HT release from, and aggregation of, platelets might be due to the reduction of (Ca2+)i elevation at the second phase induced by adrenaline and thrombin. The results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 in red ginseng roots may be active as a drug in the treatment of artheroscleorosis and thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ehime University, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arichi
mesh_terms: D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D036145:Ginsenosides; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D005894:Panax / Q000032:analysis*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D004075:Diglycerides; D036145:Ginsenosides; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D012503:Saponins; D012701:Serotonin; D013917:Thrombin; D002118:Calcium; D004837:Epinephrine