Red ginseng (Panax ginseng) decreases isoproterenol-induced cardiac injury via antioxidant properties in porcine

Abstract

Red ginseng (RG, Panax ginseng) has been shown to possess various ginsenosides. These ginsenosides are widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases in Asian communities. The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective potential of RG against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction (MI), by assessing electrocardiographic, hemodynamic, and biochemical parameters. Male porcines were orally administered with RG (250 and 500 mg/kg) or with vehicle for 9 days, with concurrent intraperitoneal injections of ISO (20 mg/kg) on the 8th and 9th day. RG significantly attenuated ISO-induced cardiac dysfunctions as evidenced by improved ventricular hemodynamic functions and reduced ST segment and QRS complex intervals. Also, RG significantly ameliorated myocardial injury parameters such as antioxidants. Malonaldialdehyde formation was also inhibited by RG. Based on the results, it is concluded that RG possesses significant cardioprotective potential through the inhibition of oxidative stress and may serve as an adjunct in the treatment and prophylaxis of MI.

FIG. 1.

High-performance liquid chromatogram of the red ginseng (RG). Peak identification: 1, ginsenoside-Rg1; 2, -Re; 3, -Rf; 4, -Rh1; 5, -Rg2s; 6, -Rb1; 7, -Rc; 8, -Rb2; 9, -Rd; 10, -Rg3s.

FIG. 2.

The effect of RG on electrocardiographic evaluations: effects of RG on the QRS complex (A), ST-segment intervals (B), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) (C), left ventricular contraction (+dP/dt_max) (D), and the maximal rate of change in left ventricular relaxation (–dP/dt_min) (E). ECG was recorded from limb leads II with a recorder speed of 50 ms/div in each group. Data are presented as mean±SD from total five porcines per group (*P<.05, **P<.05 vs. isoproterenol [ISO] control).

FIG. 3.

The effect of RG on echocardiographic evaluations. (A) 1: Echocardiography was performed on normal porcine hearts, showing the normal cardiac function such as fractional shortening (FS) and ejection fraction (EF). 2: Echocardiography was shown in porcine hearts pretreated with RG only for 7 days, also showing the normal cardiac function. 3: ISO control injected intraperitoneally twice at a 24-h interval exhibited worsening cardiac function such as FS and EF. 4 and 5: Echocardiography was performed after pretreatment with 250 or 500 mg/kg RG for 7 days before ISO injection twice at a 24-h interval, showing the recovery of FS and EF, respectively. Also, the effects of RG on the recovery of FS and EF were shown. (B, C) FS and EF as indices of cardiac function were shown with histogram by measurement of echocardiography. (D) Activity of cardiac troponin I in the heart tissue. Data are presented as mean±SD from total five porcines per group (*P<.05, **P<.01 vs. ISO control). N/C, normal control, RG, RG control; ISO, ISO control; 250 RG+ISO and 500 RG+ISO groups, pretreatment of 250 and 500 mg/kg RG for 7 days before ISO injection.

FIG. 4.

The effect of RG on neutrophil infiltration in the myocardium. (A) 1 and 2: Representative microscopic images of swine ventricles in N/C and RG control groups, respectively. 3, 4, and 5: Microscopic images in ISO control, 250 RG+ISO, and 500 RG+ISO groups stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Arrows indicate neutrophil infiltration (original magnification ×100). (B) A histogram expresses the measurements of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Data are presented as mean±SD from total five porcines per group (*P<.05, **P<.01 vs. ISO control; scale bar: 100 μm).