Up-regulation of Heme Oxygenase-1 by Korean Red Ginseng Water Extract as a Cytoprotective Effect in Human Endothelial Cells

• Published in: Journal of ginseng research Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 352 - 359
• Main Authors: Yang, Hana, Lee, Seung Eun, Jeong, Seong Il, Park, Cheung-Seog, Jin, Young-Ho, Park, Yong Seek
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 고려인삼학회 01.09.2011; The Korean Society of Ginseng
• Subjects: 기타의약학; Oxidative stress; Vascular diseases; Panax ginseng; Endothelial cells; Heme oxygenase
• ISSN: 1226-8453; 2093-4947
• DOI: 10.5142/jgr.2011.35.3.352

Korean red ginseng (KRG) is used worldwide as a popular traditional herbal medicine. KRG has shown beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and hypertension. Up-regulation of a cytoprotective protein, heme oxygenase (HO)-1, is considered to augment the cellular defense against various agents that may induce cytotoxic injury. In the present study, we demonstrate that KRG water extract induces HO-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and possible involvement of the anti-oxidant transcription factor nuclear factor-eythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). KRG-induced HO-1 expression was examined by western blots, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining. Specific silencing of Nrf2 genes with Nrf2-siRNA in HUVECs abolished HO-1 expression. In addition, the HO inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin blunted the preventive effect of KRG on H2O2-induced cell death, as demonstrated by terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Taken together, these results suggest that KRG may exert a vasculoprotective effect through Nrf2- mediated HO-1 induction in human endothelial cell by inhibition of cell death.