INFLUENCE OF TOTAL GINSENG SAPONIN ON VASOCONSTRICTORS -INDUCED CONTRACTILE RESPONSES IN THE RAT AORTA

  • Lim, Dong-Yoon (Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chosun University) ;
  • Hong, Jang-Gon (Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chosun University) ;
  • Chung, Choon-Hae (Department of Oncology, College of Medicine, Chosun University) ;
  • Ko, Suk-Tai (Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Chosun University)
  • Published : 1998.11.01

Abstract

The present study was designed to examine the effect of total ginseng saponin on contractile responses of vasoconstrictors in the rat aorta. Phenylephrine (an adrenergic ${\alpha}$$_1$-receptor agonist) and high potassium (a membrane depolarizing agent) caused greatly contractile responses in the rat aorta, respectively. However, in the presence of total ginseng saponin (600 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$), the contractile responses of phenylephrine (10$\^$-5/ and 10$\^$-7/ M) and high potassium (3.5 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-2/ and 5.6 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-2/ M) were markedly potentiated whereas prostaglandin F$\sub$2${\alpha}$/ (5 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-6/ M)-induced contractile response was not affected. The contractile responses induced by phenylephrine (10$\^$-5/ M) and high potassium (3.5 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-2/ M) even in the presence of total ginseng saponin (600 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) were greatly inhibited by the pretreatment of nicardipine (10$\^$-6/ M), a calcium channel blocker. Taken together, these experimental results suggest that total ginseng saponin can enhance the contractile responses evoked by stimulation of adrenergic ${\alpha}$$_1$-receptor and the membrane depolarization in the rat aorta, which seems to be associated to calcium influx.

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