Inhibitory Effects of Ginseng Saponins on c-fos mRNA Expression and the Proliferation of Rat Aortic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Stimulated by Angiotensin II

To evaluate the possibility that the ginseng saponins could be developed as an anti-arteriosclerotic agent, we examined the inhibitory effects of ginseng saponins (total saponin[TS], panaxatriol[PT], panaxa- diol[PD]) on the expression of c-fos mRNA and the proliferation of cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated by angiotensin II (Ang II). TS and PT (1.0 mg/ml) suppressed c-fos mRNA induction in VSMCs stimulated by 10" M Ang II. The order of inhibitory potency was PT>TS. Ginseng saponins (0.01 — 1.0 mg/ml) inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs stimulated by Ang II in a concentration dependent manner, the inhibitory potency was TS>PT>PD at 0.1 ~ 1.0 mg/ml. These results suggest that ginseng saponins may suppress Ang II-stimulated proliferation of aortic VSMCs which can be seen in atherosclerosis, hypertension and restenosis.