Beneficial changes in prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 by ginsenosides in myocardial infarction and reperfusion injury of dogs

The effect of ginsenosides on creatine phosphate kinase (CPK), prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) levels in coronary venous blood was studied on experimental myocardial infarction (MI) in anesthetized dogs. Stable metabolites of PGI2(6-keto-PGF1alpha) and TXA2 (TXB2), were determined by RIA. In control group, 1 h occlusion of LAD and 1 h reperfusion brought about an increase of CPK and a decrease of metabolites of PGI2/TXA2 ratio by either increase of TXA2 or/and decrease of PGI2. Ginsenosides 30 mg/kg iv decreased CPK and TXA2, increased 6-keto-PGF1alpha, hence increased metabolites of PGI2/TXA2 ratio after both coronary occusion and reperfusion. The result indicates that ginsenosides possess protective effects on myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury of dogs. The beneficial effects on PGI2/TXA2 seems to contribute to its myocardial protective action.