Korea red ginseng restores impaired endothelial function in aged mice through inhibition of arginase activity

Abstract

Korean red ginseng water extract (KRGE) has reported beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality and the incidence of cardiovascular disease is predicted to increase as the population ages. There is accumulating evidence that arginase upregulation is associated with impaired endothelial function in aged vasculature. Here, we demonstrate that oral administration of KRGE to aged mice inhibits increased arginase activity, restores NO generation, and reduces ROS production via enhancement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase coupling. In vascular tension assay, attenuated vasorelaxation responses to acetylcholine and reduced vasoconstriction responses to phenylephrine in aged vessels were significantly improved following administering KRGE. Furthermore, KRGE showed a preventative effect on formation of peroxynitrite in plasma of aged mice. Taken together, these results suggest that KRGE may exert vasoprotective effects through augmentation of NO signaling by inhibiting arginase activity. Therefore, KRGE may be useful in the treatment of vascular diseases associated with aging.