DK-MGAR101, an extract of adventitious roots of mountain ginseng, improves blood circulation by inhibiting endothelial cell injury, platelet aggregation, and thrombus formation

BACKGROUND: Since ginsenosides exert an anti-thrombotic activity, blood flow-improving effects of DK-MGAR101, an extract of mountain ginseng adventitious roots (MGAR) containing various ginsenosides, were investigated in comparison with an extract of Korean Red Ginseng (ERG). METHODS: In Sprague-Dawley rats orally administered with DK-MGAR101 or ERG, oxidative carotid arterial thrombosis was induced with FeCl(3) (35%), and their blood flow and occlusion time were measured. To elucidate underlying mechanisms, the cytoprotective activities on rat aortic endothelial cells (RAOECs) exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) were confirmed. In addition, the inhibitory activities of DK-MGAR101 and ERG on agonist-induced platelet aggregation, thromboxane B(2) production, and ATP granule release from stimulated platelets as well as blood coagulation were analyzed. RESULTS: DK-MGAR101 containing high concentrations of Rb1, Rg1, Rg3, Rg5, and Rk1 ginsenosides (55.07 mg/g) was more effective than ERG (ginsenosides 8.45 mg/g) in protecting RAOECs against H(2)O(2) cytotoxicity. DK-MGAR101 was superior to ERG not only in suppressing platelet aggregation, thromboxane B(2) production, and granule release, but also in delaying blood coagulation, FeCl(3)-induced arterial occlusion, and thrombus formation. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that DK-MGAR101 prevents blood vessel occlusion by suppressing platelet aggregation, thrombosis, and blood coagulation, in addition to endothelial cell injury.