HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Panax Ginseng Eliminates High Blood Pressure by Increasing NO Production

Study 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.

Study Information

Hong SY, Kim JY, Ahn HY, Shin JH, Kwon O.
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.
J Agric Food Chem.
2012 March
Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University , Seoul 120-750, Korea.