Ginsenosides Inhibit Endothelium - dependent Contraction in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat Aorta isn vitro

선천성 고혈압 랫드에서 ginsenosides에 의한 내피의존성수축의 억제작용

Our previous study showed that in vivo treatment of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with protopanaxatriol ginsenosides (PPT) reduces the blood pressure and inhibits the con- tractions induced by endothelium-derived contracting factor (prostaglandin endoperoxide ($PGH_2$) and superoxide anion) in aorta isolated from SHR. The aim of the present study is to examine whether PPT improves endothelial functions in the isolated thoracic aorta of SHR in vitro. Treatments of aortic rings with PPT, purified ginsenoside $Rg_1$ ($Rg_1$) or indomethacin normalized endotheliuln-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine, but not with protopanaxadiol ginsenosides (PPD) and purified ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1). The effects of PPT were dose-dependent. PGH,- and oxygen free radical-inducted contractions in rat aorta without endothelium were inhibited by PPT or $Rg_1$, but not by PPD or $Rb_1$. Contractions induced by PGF2$\alpha$, U-46619, a stable thromboxane A2 agonist or KCI (60 mM) were not inhibited by PPT, $Rg_1$ or $Rb_1$. These findings demonstrate that PPT but not PPD scavenges the oxygen-derived free radicals and/or antagonize the effects of $PGH_2$ in the vascular smooth muscle and may explain the hypotensive effect of ginseng in the SHR.