Korean red ginseng (KRG) is known to enhance endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in experimental animals. However little is known about the pharmacological effect of KRG in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and crossover trial, was carried out to know if KRG has any beneficial effect on the arterial stiffness, endothelial function, cardiovascular risk factors such as plasma lipid profiles and blood pressure (BP), and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) activity in CAD patients. Patients (n=20, 12 male, mean 62.5 yr) with stable angina pectoris, confirmed by angiogram, took KRG (2.7 g/d) and placebo alternatively for 10 weeks for each. Measurements of blood biochemistry, flow mediated dilation (FMD), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were performed at day 0 and after completion of each treatment. Activity of ROCK was assessed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by analyzing phospho-Thr853 in myosin binding subunit (MBS) of myosine light chain phosphatase using Western blot assay. KRG significantly decreased systolic BP (141±7 mmHg vs 129±7 mmHg, P<0.05), brachial ankle-PWV (1794±208 cm/s vs 1468±102 cm/s, P<0.05), and heart femoral-PWV (1136±145 cm/s vs 1006±107 cm/s, P<0.05), but did not significantly change serum lipid profiles. KRG also increased FMD in subjects with low (<5%) FMD at baseline (3.49±0.35% vs 5.50±0.72%, P<0.05). Activity of ROCK in PBMCs was decreased (P<0.05) by treatment with KRG. Placebo did not significantly change these variables. In conclusions, KRG can decrease systolic BP and improve endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness probably by inhibiting ROCK activity in patients with stable CAD, but it has a neutral effect on serum lipid profiles.
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