A comparative study on anticoagulant activities of three Chinese herbal medicines from the genus Panax and anticoagulant activities of ginsenosides Rg1 and Rg2. (August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, C. T.; Wang, H. B.; Xu, B. J.
• Is Part Of: Pharmaceutical biology. Volume 51:Number 8(2013:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1077
• Page End: 1080
• Publication Date: 2013-08
• Subjects: Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Materia medica, Vegetable -- Periodicals; 615.321
• DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2013.775164
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-0209

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Context</italic>: Chemical compositions of three herbal plants from the family Araliaceae genus <italic>Panax</italic> [<italic>Panax ginseng</italic> C. A. Mey, <italic>P. quinquefolius</italic> L. and <italic>P. notoginseng</italic> (Burk.) F. H. Chen] are quite similar; however, their medicinal natures vary greatly. The reason for differences has been explained in traditional Chinese medicine theory and partially verified by modern pharmacological investigations, such as antiplatelet aggregation. Aside from platelet aggregation, a variety of plasma coagulation factors are also involved in blood coagulation. The anticoagulation profiles of three herbs have not been investigated.</p> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: The current research compared the inhibitory effects of three herbal extracts from <italic>Panax</italic> spp. and the purified ginsenosides from <italic>P. ginseng</italic> on blood coagulation.</p> <p> <italic>Materials and methods</italic>: Human plasma was mixed with the water extracts (0.05 and 0.1 mg/mL) from roots of <italic>P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius</italic> and <italic>P. notoginseng</italic> and ginsenosides Rg1 and Rg2 (0.05 and 0.1 mg/mL), the blood clotting time of activated partial thromboplastin, prothrombin and thrombin were measured by a biochemical analyzer.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: The water extracts (0.05 mg/mL) of <italic>P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius</italic> and <italic>P. notoginseng</italic> could significantly extend blood clotting time as compared to the control group. Among three herbal medicines, 0.05 mg/mL of water extract from <italic>P. ginseng</italic> exhibited the strongest anticoagulation effects, followed by <italic>P. notoginseng</italic>, while <italic>P. quinquefolius</italic> presented the weakest effects. Both ginsenosides Rg1 and Rg2 could significantly extend blood clotting time in all three tests; ginsenoside Rg2 exhibited relative stronger anticoagulation effects as compared to ginsenoside Rg1.</p> <p> <italic>Discussion and conclusion</italic>: Among three herbs tested, <italic>P. ginseng</italic> as well as its active component ginsenoside Rg2 shows the strongest anticoagulation activity; current results indicate that <italic>P. ginseng</italic> and ginsenoside Rg2 have great potential to be an anticoagulation drug.</p> </abstract>