title: American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) prevents glucose-induced oxidative stress and associated endothelial abnormalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ginseng (Araliaceae), demonstrates widespread biological effects because of its purported antioxidant and other properties. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of American ginseng root extract on glucose-induced oxidative stress and associated oxidative damage to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Following pretreatment with various concentrations of ginseng (alcoholic extract), HUVECs were incubated with various concentrations of d-glucose ranging from 5 to 25mmol/l for 24h. l-Glucose was used at a concentration of 25mmol/l as a control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glucose-induced oxidative stress detected by intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation, superoxide anion generation and DNA damage in HUVECs were significantly prevented by ginseng. Treatment of HUVECs with ginseng further led to significant prevention of glucose-induced NF-κB activation. Glucose-induced increase in fibronectin (FN), EDB(+)FN (a splice variant of FN), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNAs and protein levels were also prevented by ginseng treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that American ginseng prevented glucose-induced damage in the HUVECs through its antioxidant properties.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pathology, University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Subhrojit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Shali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Yuexiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Edmund
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Subrata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005947:Glucose