Administration of Ginseng radix decreases nitric oxide synthase expression in the hippocampus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Alternation of NOS expression is implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous secondary complications of diabetes. Aqueous extract of Ginseng radix has traditionally been used for the various disorders including diabetes. In this study, the effect of Ginseng radix on the NOS expression in the hippocampus of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats was investigated via nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry. Enhanced NOS expression was detected in the hippocampus of diabetic rats and administration of Ginseng radix suppressed NOS expression. Ginseng radix may aid the treatment of central nervous system complications in diabetes.
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
Hyun-Kyung
HK
Chang
Mi-Hyeon
MH
Jang
Baek-Vin
BV
Lim
Taeck-Hyun
TH
Lee
Min-Chul
MC
Shin
Mal-Soon
MS
Shin
Hong
H
Kim
Young-Pyo
YP
Kim
Ee-Hwa
EH
Kim
Chang-Ju
CJ
Kim
D000818:Animals; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009249:NADP / Q000032:analysis; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009249:NADP; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase