title: Panax ginseng extract rich in ginsenoside protopanaxatriol attenuates blood pressure elevation in spontaneously hypertensive rats by affecting the Akt-dependent phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is a fundamental regulator of systemic blood pressure. Ginsenosides from  Panax ginseng  have been investigated in vitro for the molecular and biochemical mechanisms by which they stimulate NO release in vascular endothelial cells; however, little research has been done to confirm the physiological relevance of these in vitro studies. To address this research gap, the effects of a  P. ginseng  extract rich in ginsenosides from protopanaxatriol on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) was examined. Ginseng extract administration stimulated nongenomic Akt-mediated eNOS activation, enhanced NO production, improved vessel wall thickening, and alleviated hypertension in SHRs, confirming the physiological relevance of previous in vitro studies with ginsenosides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Korea.
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Ji Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee Yoon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jae-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Oran
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism*; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D012502:Sapogenins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D012502:Sapogenins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C081552:protopanaxatriol; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt