Korean red ginseng attenuates hypercholesterolemia-enhanced platelet aggregation through suppression of diacylglycerol liberation in high-cholesterol-diet-fed rabbits.
Intake of Korean red ginseng (KRG, ginseng Radix rubra), rich in glycosylated saponins (ginsenosides), has been known to inhibit platelet aggregation in the normocholesterolemic condition. However, it is unclear whether KRG can attenuate hypercholesterolemia-enhanced platelet aggregation. This study examined whether the daily consumption of a KRG-water extract (WE) could prevent the hypercholesterolemia-enhanced platelet aggregation and progression of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis. KRG-WE administration (200 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks potently inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by low doses of agonists (0.5 microg/mL collagen and 0.025 unit/mL thrombin), whereas it weakly reduced the blood-cholesterol levels and formation of atheromatous lesions. In further investigation, KRG-WE significantly suppressed collagen-induced 1,2-diacylglycerol liberation, but had no significant effect on arachidonic acid liberation. Taken together, it can be suggested that the antiplatelet effect of KRG-WE may, at least partly, be due to the inhibition of 1,2-diacylglycerol generation rather than regulation of blood lipid levels. In conclusion, daily consumption of KRG-WE could be a useful alternative measure for the prevention of thrombus and atheroma formation in hypercholesterolemia.
Hwang
Seock-Yeon
SY
Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Juseong College, Cheongwongun, Chungbuk 363-794, Korea.
Son
Dong Ju
DJ
Kim
Il-Woong
IW
Kim
Dong-Man
DM
Sohn
Sang-Hyun
SH
Lee
Jung-Jin
JJ
Kim
Si-Kwan
SK
D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000378:metabolism*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D007723:Korea; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits
C011439:1,2-diacylglycerol; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004075:Diglycerides; D036145:Ginsenosides; D010743:Phospholipids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid