Abstract
The improving effects of 70% methanol extract (RG-ext) and its potent components obtained from Red Ginseng on the peripheral circulation disorder were investigated using various experimental models in rats.
RG-ext promoted the dorsal skin blood flow of intact rat and improved the lowering of the dorsal skin blood flow induced by norepinephrine (NE), and also caused by water immersion, but was ineffective on serotonin-treated rats. RG-ext restored the increase of the blood flow induced by doxazosin (DO).
Ginsenoside-Rb1 (Rb1) improved the lowering of the dorsal skin blood flow by NE and ginsenoside-Rg1 (Rg1) restored the increase of blood flow by DO. When Rb1 was administered orally to rats in combination with non-saponin fraction (RW-fr) obtained from Red Ginseng, the improving effects were more enhanced than that of Rb1 alone, but it was ineffective in RW-fr itself. Non-saponin fraction (WW-fr) from White Ginseng did not show the increasing effect such a RW-fr. Rb1 produced 20(S)- and 20(R)-ginsenoside-Rg3 [20(S)- and 20(R)-Rg3] in gastric juice, and in artificial gastric juice. Ginsenoside-Rb2, -Rc and -Rd also produced 20(S)- and 20(R)-Rg3 as well as Rb1. When 20(S)-Rg3 was administered intravenously to rats, it improved the lowering of the dorsal skin blood flow induced by NE, but only showed a tendency to improve the blood flow in case of oral administration. 20(S)-Rg3 showed relatively strong improving effect in combination with RW-fr.
Consequently, it has become apparent that the improving effect of RG-ext on the peripheral circulation disorder are attributable to action of 20(S)-Rg3 which was formed from protopanaxadiol saponins of RG-ext in stomach and then absorbed into blood flow through intestinal membrane with some support of RW-fr.
