Inhibitory activity of ginsenosides isolated from processed ginseng on platelet aggregation

Abstract

Seven ginsenosides, namely Rg6 (1), F4 (2), Rk3 (3), Rh4 (4), Rs3 (5), Rs4 (6) and Rs5 (7) isolated from processed ginseng were evaluated for their effects on platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen, arachidonic acid (AA) and U46619 (thromboxane A2 mimetic drug). Ginsenosides Rg 6, F4 and Rk3 showed inhibitory activity (IC50 =76 μM, 114 μM and 128 μM, respectively) on AA-induced platelet aggregation. The corresponding IC50 values were comparable to that of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (63 μM). Compared to ASA (IC 50 = 468 μM) ginsenosides Rg6, F4, Rk 3 and Rh4 were found to be more inhibitive (IC 50 = 286 μM, 87 μM, 187 μM and 119 μM, respectively) against U46619-induced aggregation. On the other hand, most of the ginsenosides (Rg6, F4, Rh4, Rs3, Rs5) showed negligible effects on ADP and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. The acetylated ginsenosides (Rs3, Rs4 and Rs5) had only mild effects on aggregation induced by four stimulators.