人蔘에 關한 實驗的硏究

Abstract

[한글]

[영문]

Ginseng has been used as a panacea for various kinds of diseases among oriental people for many centuries. The pharmacological basis for its use, however, has not been fully elucidated. Recently Lee and his associates (1960) demonstrated that ginseng extract contains a component which roleases histamine. This finding was further supported by Lee (1962) who observed that increased basal metabolic rate of rats following the administration of ginseng is closely related with the liberation

of histamine in the body. Kim (1963) also found that the capillary permeability induced by histamine was markedly enhanced after the administration of ginseng extract. On the other hand, Hwang (1960) postulated that ginseng appeared to exert its action by releasing serotonin from various tissues. However, Park (1960) and others (Yoon, 1960 and Kim, 1960) pointed out that this drug produces the action similar to that of serotonin. Another conflicting report concerning the effects of ginseng on circulatory system is its protective effects on the atherosclerotic damage in the arterial tissue. Nam (1961a, 1961b) suggested that it depressed significantly serum cholesterol levels and severity of atherosclerotic lesions in cholesterol fed rabbits. Furthermore, Kim (1962)reported that the damage in the

media of blood vessels induced by the repeated injection of epinephrine into rabbits was also effectively prevented by the pretreatment with ginseng. Although a considerable number of experiment concerning the therapeutic effects of ginseng has

been appeared in recent years, little is known about its apparent mechanism of action, especially on the circulatory system.

The present experiment was, therefore, undertaken to re·evaluate its cardiovascular action and possibly the interaction with epinephrine. In addition, the significance of biogenic amines in tissues after long term supplementation of

ginseng in these animals was also investigated.

Method

The experiments were conducted on the adult albino rabbits of both sexes. The water extract of ginseng was prepared according to the usual method: one mililiter of this extract is equivalent to one gram of ginseng root. In case of feeding experiment, the powder of ginseng root was supplemented with diet at a daily dose

level of 1.0g/kg body weight for 2 months. Epinephrine(0.05mg/kg) was injected intravenously into animals for 2 months.

Animals were killed at the end of the experimental period of 2 months. The isolated atria of rabbit, isolated papillary muscle of cat and heart-lung preparation of dog were prepared according to the procedure described by Lee and Shideman (1959) and the isolated aortic strip was made according to the method of Furchgott (1960).

Their responses to epinephrine were determined. At the same time, aorta was fixed in 10% formalin and paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological examination. The tissue content of catecholamines and serotonin were determined by the Aminco-Bowman spectrophotofluorometeric procedure described by Shore and Olin (1958), and by Bogdanski et al.(1956), respectively.

Result

1. The ginseng extract, in a concentration of 1 : 1,000 or less, produced no significant action on the isolated atria of rabbits, the isolated papillary muscle of cat and the heart-lung preparation of dog. However, at higher concentrations (1 : 500 or greater) it exerted negative inotropic and negative chronotropic action on theme cardiac preparations. This cardioinhibitory action was not blocked by atropine, suggesting that ginseng extract exerts cardioinhibition by direct action on myocardium.

2. The ginseng extract exerted no effects on the isolated aortic strip of rabbits, whereas epinephrine produced a marked contraction of the aortic strip.

3. The responses of the isolated atria and aortic strip of rabbits to epinephrine were not significantly altered by the administration of ginseng extract in vitro.

4. The responses of arterial blood pressure, isolated auricle or aortic strip preparation to epinephrine was essentially same in rabbits with and without supplementing dietary ginseng.

5. The serotonin content in brain was significantly increased following long term feeding (2 months) of ginseng, but catecholamine content was not changed.

6. The repeated intravenous injections of epinephrine produced an arteriosclerotic damage in the aortic media of rabbits. Essentially similar degenerative changes were also occurred in the aorta of rabbits which received ginseng powder along with the injection of epinephrine.

From the above results, it may be concluded that ginseng appears to produce no significant influence in the production or treatment of experimental arteriosclerosis. However, it is of interest to notice that the administration of ginseng elevates the level of serotonin in brain. The significance of this elevation of brain serotonin will be explored by further investigations.