Ginsenoside Rg2 alleviates myocardial fibrosis by regulating TGF-β1/Smad signalling pathway

Abstract

Context

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Araliaceae) has cardioprotective effects. Ginsenosides are responsible for most of the pharmacological activities of ginseng.

Objective

This study investigates the effect of ginsenoside Rg2 on myocardial fibrosis in myocardial ischaemia rats.

Materials and methods

Male Wistar rats were divided into control, isoproterenol, ginsenoside Rg2 (5, 20 mg/kg) groups (n = 8). The rats were subcutaneously injected with isoproterenol (5 mg/kg) or normal saline (control group) once daily for 7 days. The animals were intragastrically treated with ginsenoside Rg2 or 0.5% CMC-Na (control and isoproterenol groups) daily for 28 days. At day 28, cardiac function, myocardial fibrosis, and TGF-β1/Smad signalling pathway were evaluated.

Results

Compared with myocardial ischaemic rats, ginsenoside Rg2 at doses of 5, 20 mg/kg abated partially the augment of LVEDP (8.9 ± 1.3 vs. 7.5 ± 0.7, 7.2 ± 1.0 mmHg) and the decreases of the LVSP (96.75 ± 13.2 vs. 118.3 ± 19.4, 124.3 ± 21.3 mmHg), the + dp/dt (2142.8 ± 309.3 vs. 2598.6 ± 404.0, 2661.5 ± 445.2 mmHg/s), and the -dp/dt (1996.3 ± 306.3 vs. 2476.6 ± 289.7, 2509.6 ± 353.1 mmHg/s). Ginsenoside Rg2 (9.2 ± 0.9%, 8.5 ± 0.8%) alleviated myocardial fibrosis when compared with the isoproterenol group (10.1 ± 1.0%), which was accompanied by suppressed TGF-β1/Smad signalling in heart tissues.

Conclusions

Ginsenosides from ginseng possess the property of alleviating myocardial fibrosis, improving cardiac function after myocardial ischaemia. Ginsenosides may be promising agents for improving the outcomes of patients with myocardial ischaemia.

Keywords:

• Myocardial ischaemia
• cardiac function
• isoproterenol

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 81473378]; Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province [grant number 20170101002JC; and the Jilin Scientific and Technological Development Program [grant number 20190103084JH].