TY - JOUR
T1 - Korean red ginseng inhibits arginase and contributes to endotheliumdependent vasorelaxation through endothelial nitric oxide synthase coupling
AU - Shin, Woosung
AU - Yoon, Jeongyeon
AU - Oh, Goo Taeg
AU - Ryoo, Sungwoo
PY - 2013/1
Y1 - 2013/1
N2 - Korean red ginseng water extract (KG-WE) has known beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system via inducting nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelium. Endothelial arginase inhibits the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by substrate depletion, thereby reducing NO bioavailability and contributing to vascular diseases including hypertension, aging, and atherosclerosis. In the present study, we demonstrate that KG-WE inhibits arginase activity and negatively regulates NO production and reactive oxygen species generation in endothelium. This is associated with increased dimerization of eNOS without affecting the protein expression levels of either arginase or eNOS. In a vascular tension assay, when aortas isolated from wild type mice were incubated with KG-WE, NO-dependent enhanced vasorelaxation was observed. Furthermore, KG-WE administered via by drinking water to atherogenic model mice being fed high cholesterol diet improved impaired vascular function. Taken together, these results suggest that KG-WE may exert vasoprotective effects through augmentation of NO signaling by inhibiting arginase. Therefore, KG-WE may be useful in the treatment of vascular diseases derived from endothelial dysfunction, such as atherosclerosis.
AB - Korean red ginseng water extract (KG-WE) has known beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system via inducting nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelium. Endothelial arginase inhibits the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by substrate depletion, thereby reducing NO bioavailability and contributing to vascular diseases including hypertension, aging, and atherosclerosis. In the present study, we demonstrate that KG-WE inhibits arginase activity and negatively regulates NO production and reactive oxygen species generation in endothelium. This is associated with increased dimerization of eNOS without affecting the protein expression levels of either arginase or eNOS. In a vascular tension assay, when aortas isolated from wild type mice were incubated with KG-WE, NO-dependent enhanced vasorelaxation was observed. Furthermore, KG-WE administered via by drinking water to atherogenic model mice being fed high cholesterol diet improved impaired vascular function. Taken together, these results suggest that KG-WE may exert vasoprotective effects through augmentation of NO signaling by inhibiting arginase. Therefore, KG-WE may be useful in the treatment of vascular diseases derived from endothelial dysfunction, such as atherosclerosis.
KW - Arginase
KW - Endothelial nitric oxide synthase
KW - Korean red ginseng water extract
KW - Nitric oxide
KW - Panax ginseng
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84872252713&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5142/jgr.2013.37.64
DO - 10.5142/jgr.2013.37.64
M3 - Article
C2 - 23717158
AN - SCOPUS:84872252713
SN - 1226-8453
VL - 37
SP - 64
EP - 73
JO - Journal of Ginseng Research
JF - Journal of Ginseng Research
IS - 1
ER -