Abstract
The cardioprotective effects of ginseng root extracts have been reported. However, nothing is known about the myocardial actions of the phenolic compounds enriched in ginseng berry. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the effects of American ginseng berry extract (GBE) in an experimental model of myocardial infarction (MI). Coronary artery ligation was performed on Sprague–Dawley male rats to induce MI after which animals were randomized into groups receiving either distilled water or GBE intragastrically for 8 weeks. Echocardiography and assays for malondialdehyde (MDA) and TNF-α were conducted. Flow cytometry was used to test the effects of GBE on T cell phenotypes and cytokine production. Although GBE did not improve the cardiac functional parameters, it significantly attenuated oxidative stress in post-MI rat hearts. GBE treatment also resulted in lower than control levels of TNF-α in post-MI rat hearts indicating a strong neutralizing effect of GBE on this cytokine. However, there was no effect of GBE on the proportion of different T cell subsets or ex-vivo cytokine production. Taken together, the present study demonstrates GBE reduces oxidative stress, however no effect on cardiac structure and function in post-MI rats. Moreover, reduction of TNF-α levels below baseline raises concern regarding its use as prophylactic or preventive adjunct therapy in cardiovascular disease.
Highlights
Ginseng has been used for centuries in the traditional medicines in Asia
1 IL-2 UNS 4 samples from sham/water, 2 from sham/Ginseng berry extract (GBE), 4 from myocardial infarction (MI)/water, 6 from MI/GBE were below detection limit of 0.46 pg/Ml; 2 IFNγ concanvalin A (ConA) 1 outlier removed from sham/water group; 3 IL-10 ConA 2 samples from MI/water and 1 from sham/water were below detection limit of 19.4 pg/mL; 4 IL-10 UNS 5 samples from sham/water, 3 from sham/GBE, 5 from MI/water, 6 from MI/GBE were below detection limit of 19.4 pg/mL
There is no information in the literature on the effects of ginseng berry on heart structure and function in any settings of cardiovascular disease, some studies conducted with Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) have shown that GBE exerts anti-atherosclerotic [15], anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity effects [16]
Summary
Ginseng has been used for centuries in the traditional medicines in Asia. It is a herb derived from genus Panax, of family Araliaceae and has thirteen different species which are indigenous to Asia and North America [1]. In the North American ginseng berry, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid were reported to be the active polyphenolic constituents in a study of the protective effect of ginseng berry extract against oxidant injury in cardiomyocytes [4]. A recent study showed that ginseng berry has higher total phenol content (including quercetin, rutin, and resveratrol) than the root [5]. Both ginseng root and berry have pharmacological actions, in some instances berry has been found to be more effective. Phenolic compounds have been shown to modulate immune responses [14]; but there is a paucity of information on immunomodulatory effects of phenolic extracts from ginseng berry. Our study assessed immunomodulatory activity of GBE in the myocardial infarction (MI) model induced in rats by coronary artery ligation
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