In addition, Korean red ginseng improves arterial stiffness in hypertension [50]. Overall, these results show the improvement in vasomotor function by ginseng. It has initially been thought that ginseng may increase blood pressure to harmful levels. However, previous studies have shown that ginseng

cures patients with low blood pressure, restoring it to normal levels. In addition, ginseng also reduces blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure [51]. The blood pressure lowering activity of Korean ginseng is attributed to the production of vascular endothelial cell-derived NO [52]. Recent studies have shown that ginseng this website has biochemical and pharmacological activities beneficial for blood pressure control, where lower doses have greater antihypertensive effects than higher doses [53], and improve blood circulation through vasodilation [52]. The antihypertensive effect of ginseng is mediated by the inhibition of myogenic responses on the blood vessels [54]. In addition, ginseng protects against tissue damage and is also a novel therapy Selleckchem GW 572016 for heart failure [55]. Saponins from P. notoginseng protected the heart against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity [56] and blocked the cardiac hypertrophy induced by monocrotaline in rats [57]. Left ventricular hypertrophy produced by aortic coarctation was protected by ginsenoside Rg1 through NO

functions [58]. Electromechanical alternans was suppressed by ginsenoside Re in cardiomyocytes [59], and myocardial infarction after ischemia and reperfusion was preconditionally protected by ginsenoside Rb1 [60]. Another study showed that ginsenoside Rg1 inhibits left ventricular hypertrophy [61]. P. ginseng also suppresses apoptosis in neonatal cardiocytes by modulating cAMP Bcl-2 and caspase-3 activities during hypoxia and reperfusion [62]. Furthermore, cardiomyocytes have been protected by ginsenoside Rg1 from oxidative injury through antioxidation

and intracellular calcium modulation [63]. Total saponin, panaxadiol, and panaxatriol from ginseng have been able to protect cardiomyocytes from ischemia and reperfusion injuries [64]. Cardiac injury in diabetes induced by streptozotocin has been prevented by ginsenoside Rb1 [65] and unfavorable postmyocardial remodeling was reduced by ginseng [66]. Some studies suggest that cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure are prevented by ginseng through Nhe-1 modulation and reduction of calcineurin activation [67]. Recent studies also show that cardiac protection by NO was facilitated by compound K through the Akt/PI3K pathway [68]. Acute cardiac injury from ischemia and reperfusion has been protected through the GR and estrogen receptor-activated risk pathway by the eNOS-dependent mechanism in rats [69]. Thus, these studies suggest that ginseng preserves heart function after myocardial tissue deterioration.