Total ginsenosides suppress monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats: involvement of nitric oxide and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ginsenosides have been shown to exert beneficial pharmacological effects on the central nervous, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems. We sought to determine whether total ginsenosides (TG) inhibit monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension and to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Methods

MCT-intoxicated rats were treated with gradient doses of TG, with or without N (G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester. The levels of molecules involving the regulation of nitric oxide and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways were determined.

Results

TG ameliorated MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension in a dose-dependent manner, as assessed by the right ventricular systolic pressure, the right ventricular hypertrophy index, and pulmonary arterial remodeling. Furthe

SUBMITTER: Qin N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5005363 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature