‘Different Branches from the Same Root’: Similarity and Specificity of Five Saponins from Panax Notoginseng in Cardiovascular-Related Therapeutic Effects and Mechanisms
Jiangquan Liao
National Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Center for Cardiovascular Disease, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
Zhe Wang
Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Kangkang Wei
Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Jiangmeng Chang
Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Xianlun Li *
National Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Center for Cardiovascular Disease, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
Jinhang Du
National Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Center for Cardiovascular Disease, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Saponins are the major extracts of Panax notoginseng, which is one of the most commonly used herbal medicine in East Asia. Increasing evidences suggest that Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) have various therapeutic effects on cardiovascular diseases. The therapeutic effects of PNS is through the complex combination of saponins. Notoginsenoside R1, ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, Rd and Re are the major components of PNS, which have been studied thoroughly in recent years. In this review the authors summarize and compare the cardiovascular-related effects and mechanisms of these five saponins respectively. Anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis are the most shared functions. But some of the functions are contradictory, such as GRb1 inhibit the endothelial tube formation and angiogenesis, while GRg1 promote the VEGF synthesis and angiogenic tube formation. Even GRg1 itself functions contradictory in angiogenesis. The comprehensive summary of the effects and mechanisms of saponins shed lights on the understanding of the diverse functions PNS exert, and lay groundwork for the development and utilization of saponins in cardiovascular diseases.
Keywords: Panax notoginseng saponins, saponins, cardiovascular, therapeutic effects, mechanisms.