title: Effects of Panax notoginseng saponin Rg1 on cardiac electrophysiological properties and ventricular fibrillation threshold in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of Rg1 isolated from saponins of Panax notoginseng on cardiac electrophysiological properties and ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen open-chest dogs were randomly allocated into a Rg1 group (20 mg kg-1, iv) and a control group. The electrophysiological variables and VFT were evaluated by standard electric stimuli and monophasic action potential (MAP) recording.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rg1 prolonged sinus node recovery time (SNRT) by 19.1%, AV conduction Wenckebach cycle length (AVWCL) by 7.1%, and ventricular effective refractory period (VERP) by 7.9%. It prolonged ventricular MAPD30, MAPD50, and MAPD90 by 25.5%, 24.2%, and 13.5%, respectively. VFT was increased by 19.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rg1 prolonged ventricular refractoriness and repolarization, and increased VFT. It was indicated that cardiac electrophysiological effects of Rg1 were similar to those of amiodarone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs; D036145:Ginsenosides; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D005894:Panax; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011897:Random Allocation; D012032:Refractory Period, Electrophysiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D036145:Ginsenosides; D012503:Saponins; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1