Red Korean Ginseng Leads to Recoupling of eNOS (Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase) and Restoration of the Endothelial Function
Disorders of the blood vessels and the cardiovascular system are widespread civilization diseases.
The so-called endothelial function is crucial for vascular health. An endothelial dysfunction is a systemic pathological state of the endothelium and can be broadly defined as an imbalance between vasodilating and vasoconstricting substances. The frequency of endothelial dysfunction increases with age.
Endothelial dysfunction may lead to coronary heart disease and arteriosclerosis.
Crucial for a healthy function of the endothelium is the bioavailability of NO (nitric oxide). NO is indispensable as a signaling molecule in the body and is also essential in the blood vessel. Blood pressure regulation and vascular relaxation are largely controlled by NO.
Scientists at Kangwon National University (Korea) Found that Red Korean Ginseng Can Restore a Physiological NO Formation in the Blood Vessel.
The important nitric oxide (NO) is formed by the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) of the amino acid arginine.
Under unfavorable conditions, another enzyme called arginase is able to “snatch” arginine. In endothelial dysfunction, arginase shows a higher activity. This contributes to the fact that the endothelial NO synthase has less arginine available to form NO.
Red Ginseng Inhibits Arginase Activity and Thus Contributes to Vascular Health.
ROS (reactive oxygen species) are found increasingly in endothelial dysfunction and lead to so-called oxidative stress.
Red Korean Ginseng Reduces Highly Harmful ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species).
Among others, reactive oxygen species contribute to the fact that an important cofactor of the NO synthase increasingly oxidizes and thus becomes useless.
This cofactor is called BH4 (tetrahydrobiopterin). Through oxidation, the BH2 is increased. The ratio of BH4 to BH2 is then changed in favor of BH2.
This fact has severe consequences for the enzyme eNOS.
It becomes unbalanced and decouples.
Red Korean Ginseng Led to Recoupling of the NO Synthase and to Restoration of a Healthy Vascular Tone.
During decoupling the cellular and vascular toxic superoxide is formed. If superoxide reacts with NO, peroxynitrite is formed. Peroxynitrite is even more harmful than superoxide.
This reaction should be inhibited as soon as possible in order to prevent serious damage in blood vessel cells and other body cells.
Red Korean Ginseng Could Prevent the Formation of Peroxynitrite in Animals.
Red Korean Ginseng Restores the Endothelial Function by Inhibiting the Arginase Activity