Influence of ginsenoside-Re against myocardial infarction in isolated heart

Ginsenosides, one of the well-known traditional herbal substance, frequently are used in South Korea for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The effects of ginsenoside-Re (G-Re) on ischemia-induced heart were investigated through analyses of hemodynamic change including perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output. Myocardial function was recorded. Administration of ginsenoside-Re significantly prevented decreases in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output. The Administration of G-Re significantly recovered all of the hemodynamic parameters, except heart rate, after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury (perfusion pressure: 78.49±3.98% vs. 66.61±3.3%, aortic flow volume: 59.26±2.29% vs. 42.68±2.17%, coronary flow volume: 74.89±2.88% vs. 52.89±2.81%, and cardiac output: 63.12±3.81% vs. 45.25±3.83%,P<0.01, respectively, normal control as 100%). The intracellular calcium([Ca₂₊]i) content in cardiomyocytes was quantitatively determined. Administration of G-Re significantly prevented [Ca₂₊]i increase that had been induced by simulated I/R in vitro (P<0.01) in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that the antiischemic role of G-Re is mediated by the inhibition of [Ca ₂₊]i increase. Over all, we found that the administration of G-Re has cardioprotective effects on the isolated heart. The beneficial effects may be mediated through controlling the level of [Ca₂₊]i. These results indicate that G-Re has a distinct cardioprotective effect in an isolated rat heart.