Acta Pharmacologica Sinica (2009) 30: 299-306; doi: 10.1038/aps.2009.6

Aim: To investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the migration, adhesion, proliferation, and VEGF expression of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).    

Methods: EPCs were isolated from human peripheral blood and incubated with different concentrations of ginsenoside Rg1 (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 µmol/L) and vehicle controls.  EPC migration was detected with a modified Boyden chamber assay. EPC adhesion was determined by counting adherent cells on fibronectin-coated culture dishes.  EPC proliferation was analyzed with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.  In vitro vasculogenesis was assayed using an in vitro vasculogenesis detection kit.  A VEGF-ELISA kit was used to measure the amount of VEGF protein in the cell culture medium.

Results: Ginsenoside Rg1 promoted EPC adhesion, proliferation, migration and in vitro vasculogenesis in a dose- and time-dependent manner.  Cell cycle analysis showed that 5.0 µmol/L of ginsenoside Rg1 significantly increased the EPC proliferative phase (S phase) and decreased the resting phase (G₀/G₁ phase).  Ginsenoside Rg1 increased vascular endothelial growth factor production.

Conclusion: The results indicate that ginsenoside Rg1 promotes proliferation, migration, adhesion and in vitro vasculogenesis.

Keywords: endothelial progenitor cells; ginsenoside Rg1; proliferation; migration; angiogenesis