[Action target of ginseng and panax notoginseng extracts on angiogenesis signaling pathway]

To investigate the action targets of ginseng (GS) and Panax notoginseng (PN), Chinese herbs for benefiting qi and activating blood circulation, on angiogenesis signaling pathway (VEGFR-2-Ras-MAPK) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

To block the signal pathway by turns, at the first, added the IC50 of VEGFR-2 inhibitor, SU5416, and detected its downstream signaling protein Ras, MAPK expression using Western Blot. Secondly, added the IC50 of the Ras inhibitor, FPP, and detected its downstream signaling protein MAPK expression.

Compared with the control group, adding SU5416 made the Ras, MAPK expression significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); and adding FPP made the expression of MAPK significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the group treated by SU5416 alone, the expression of downstream signaling protein Ras, MAPK were significantly higher in the group treated by SU5416 plus GS and PN (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); same state also found in comparison MAPK expression between groups treated with FPP alone and FPP plus GS and PN (P < 0.05).

The angiogenesis mechanism of GS and PN on HUVEC may be realized by increasing the protein expression of three key signals, VEGFR-2, Ras and MAPK, respectively.