title: Effect of ginsenoside-Rg3 on the expression of VEGF and TNF-α in retina with diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of ginsenoside-Rg3 on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in retina with diabetic rats and its roles in preventing neovascularization in diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups randomly: negative control group, diabetic control group and ginsenoside-Rg3 treatment group (5mg/kg, 0.2mg/mL) followed by establishing diabetic model. The expression of VEGF and TNF-α were measured after 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences among negative control group, diabetic control group and ginsenoside-Rg3 treatment group in the expression of VEGF and TNF-α (F=129.363, 211.992; all the P<0.01). VEGF and TNF-α expression were significantly higher in diabetic control group and ginsenoside-Rg3 treatment group than that in negative control group (P<0.01), with a significant reduction in ginsenoside-Rg3 treatment group than that in diabetic control group (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ginsenoside-Rg3 can down-regulate the expression of VEGF and TNF-α in retina, which may interfere in the development of diabetic retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Quan
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zhan-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhou