title: Comparison of the effects of Korean ginseng and heat-processed Korean ginseng on diabetic oxidative stress.
abstract: To investigate the effects of Korean ginseng (KG, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and heat-processed Korean ginseng (H-KG) on diabetic renal damage, we used the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model in this study. The diabetes-induced physiological abnormalities at early-stage were attenuated by KG or H-KG administration through reducing the blood glucose level and improving renal function. The oxidative stress-induced increases in serum and renal thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels were significantly reduced by KG and H-KG administrations. Moreover, the protein expressions related to oxidative stress and advanced glycation endproducts were significantly reduced in diabetic rats and/or not significantly increased compared to normal rats by KG or H-KG administration. All of these beneficial effects of H-KG in diabetic rats were stronger than those of KG. Therefore, KG and H-KG may improve diabetic pathological conditions and prevent renal damage associated with diabetic nephropathy, and these protective effects of KG can be improved by heat-processing. This study provides scientific evidence that H-KG may be a potential therapeutic agent for pathological conditions associated with diabetic complications including diabetic nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hyun Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamabe
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokozawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000517:prevention & control; D005511:Food Handling; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000737:chemistry; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D036145:Ginsenosides; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D013311:Streptozocin