Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  1998 Apr;2(2):201-207.

Inhibitory effects of ginseng saponins on c-fos mRNA expression and the proliferation of rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells stimulated by angiotensin II

• Choi W
• Jung JY
• Kim HS
• Yun YP
• Park JD
• Ahn HY

Abstract

To evaluate the possibility that the ginseng saponins could be developed as an anti-arteriosclerotic agent, we examined the inhibitory effects of ginseng saponins (total saponin(TS), panaxatriol(PT), panaxadiol(PD)) on the expression of c-fos mRNA and the proliferation of cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated by angiotensin II (Ang II). TS and PT (1.0 mg/ml) suppressed c-fos mRNA induction in VSMCs stimulated by 10-5 M Ang II. The order of inhibitory potency was PT>TS. Ginseng saponins (0.01~1.0 mg/ml) inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs stimulated by Ang II in a concentration dependent manner, the inhibitory potency was TS> PT> PD at 0.1~1.0 mg/ml. These results suggest that ginseng saponins may suppress Ang II-stimulated proliferation of aortic VSMCs which can be seen in atherosclerosis, hypertension and restenosis.

Keyword

Ginseng saponins; c-fos; Proliferation; Angiotensin II; Vascular smooth muscle cells

MeSH Terms

Angiotensin II*
Angiotensins*
Animals
Atherosclerosis
Hypertension
Muscle, Smooth, Vascular*
Panax*
Rats*
RNA, Messenger*
Saponins*
Angiotensin II
Angiotensins
RNA, Messenger
Saponins