title: The Effect of Red Ginseng Extract Intake on Ischemic Flaps.
abstract: Red ginseng is well known for its angiogenic effects and its effect of increasing expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs), but little experimental evidence has been published. In this study, we examined the effect of red ginseng using an ischemic flap model. Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups of 10. One group drank red ginseng solution from 7 days prior to surgery to 7 days after, whereas the other group drank distilled water. We created a local flap on the back of each rat. We analyzed the surviving area of the flap for 10 days after surgery and measured the blood flow of the flap. Ten days after the operation, CD31-positive vessels and VEGF expression were examined by immunohistochemistry. The percentages of surviving areas of the flap were 76 ± 3% for the experimental group and 39 ± 5% for the control group (P = 0.0002). Blood flow in the experimental group increased for 10 days after the surgery. The number of newly generated capillaries in the experimental group was 14.0 ± 3.5, which was significantly higher than 5.7 ± 1.9 in the control group. The expression of VEGF in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group (p = 0.0003). Administration of red ginseng extract increases the survival of ischemic flaps via angiogenesis and elevated blood flow. Further clinical studies are warranted to apply the effect shown in this current investigation to various ischemic conditions.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: In Sik
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Young Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Tai Suk
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Human Tissue Restoration, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Won Jai
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Human Tissue Restoration, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Hwan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Human Tissue Restoration, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Human Tissue Restoration, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Human Tissue Restoration, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Kyun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Rah
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat
keywords: angiogenesis-inducing agents; blood flow; ischemic disease; panax; surgical flaps; vascular endothelial growth factor A