title: Protective effect of ginsenosides Rg(2) and Rh(1) on oxidation-induced impairment of erythrocyte membrane properties.
abstract: The extract from Panax ginseng has been reported to improve the microcirculation in various organs. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are still poorly understood. In the present study, using the rheological properties of erythrocytes as an index, we have screened the components of Panax ginseng extract and identified Rg(2) and Rh(1) as the active ingredients. These two ginsenosides prevented the oxidative stress-induced elevation of erythrocyte suspension viscosity and the impairment of erythrocyte elongation in response to shear stress. Rg(2) and Rh(1) ginsenosides did not have antioxidant activity in an aqueous phase and did not inhibit the peroxidation of membrane lipids, either. However, they inhibited the oxidation-induced decrease of SH-groups in band 3 (anion exchanger-1), one of the important structural proteins of the erythrocyte membrane, but not in other structural proteins: bands 1 and 2 (spectrins), band 4.2 or band 5 (actin). These results suggest that ginsenosides Rg(2) and Rh(1) protect the rheological functions of erythrocytes against oxidative stress by preventing the oxidation of SH-groups in band 3 protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Histology, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Samukawa
authors.forename: Yoji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Nobutaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohkubo
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoto
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakanaka
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mitsuda
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000187:drug effects; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D005894:Panax
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D036145:Ginsenosides; C425564:ginsenoside Rh1; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1